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The Grundy County Board this week approved a resolution to increase solar farm fees.
Director of Development, Alec Macdonald compared developments this year to last year.

“We work proactively to ensure to put the county in the best position plausible regarding the future solar development fees. The information provided within the summary of the maximum fees a county government may charge for solar developments as included in the recently passed Surgent Energy Bill in the state of Illinois. Under the twenty twenty five fee schedule, solar farm paid ten thousand dollar special use application fee. Our renewals were limited to three years with renewal schedule at seventy five percent application fee year one, fifty percent application fee year two, and then one hundred percent of the original fee in year three. Under the twenty twenty five fee schedule, a solar farm developer pay. Under the updated fee schedule, solar special use fees would be capacity based, set at five thousand dollars per megawatt of capacity rounded up to the next megawatt.” 
He continued with more on annual fees and state guidelines. 
“Its the maximum amount, again, authorized under state law. The state has capped fees at a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars per project. The renewal fees have been updated as well and are now one hundred percent of the original fee allowed annually for up to five years also capped at a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars. Again, consistent with state guidelines. In addition to the special use fee, the update also addresses the building permit for solar farms. Previously, the permit was tied to estimated construction value, which required staff review and verification of cost assumptions. The updated ordinance moves to capacity based building permit fee, also set at five thousand dollars per megawatt, with state authorized cap of only seventy five thousand dollars per project. This creates a more objective, predictable, and defensible process in turning the county recovers the true cost of plan review and inspections. Taken together, these updates again reflect the maximum fee structure allowed under state law.” 
MacDonald added that this ensures that commercial energy developers, not local taxpayers pay the true cost of review oversight and long-term administration of the green renewable energy initiative from the state.
The land use committee gave prior approval of the updated fee schedule.
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