Windy. Evening light rain will give way to clearing overnight. Low 28F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70%..
Windy. Evening light rain will give way to clearing overnight. Low 28F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Updated: February 19, 2026 @ 4:02 pm
The Madison County Board voted Wednesday night to postpone taking action on a permit for a solar farm along Route 162 in Pontoon Beach.
The vote came after the zoning board of appeals recommended denial of the permit, and the county board’s building and zoning committee did not issue an opinion.
One of the main concerns cited for the postponement was the developer not adequately addressing local concerns, like the possibility of disturbing Native-American artifacts buried there.
During the public comment session, Sam Walch from developer Arena Renewables talked about the benefits of the 3.0 megawatt solar farm, including financial ones:
Jim Greenwald lives in the subdivision that borders the farmland where the site is proposed. He is also a board member of the Emerald Meadows Homeowners Association and shared some neighborhood concerns:
In other business, the Madison County Board approved a change in hours for Bluestem Distillery in Bethalto, after the owners and neighbors reached an agreement on outdoor entertainment guidelines.
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