The solar farm at Huntley High School on Friday, June 30, 2023. (Gregory Shaver/Gregory Shaver Shaw Media )
The McHenry County Board has voted to approve a quintet of solar farms after the courts ordered them to do it, and one day before the court-ordered deadline.
The County Board was ordered to reverse its previous denials of the Water Locust Solar project near Johnsburg, the Pebble Solar and Area Topaz Solar projects near McHenry, the Crystal Lake Solar project near Crystal Lake and the Railway Solar project near Union.
The County Board voted on all of them at once, approving them 11-7.
Board members Pamela Althoff, R-McHenry; Carolyn Campbell, D-Crystal Lake; John Collins, D-Crystal Lake; Joe Gottemoller, R-Crystal Lake; Jim Kearns, R-Huntley; Deena Krieger, R-Island Lake; Brian Sager, R-Woodstock; Michael Skala, R-Huntley; Larry Smith, R-Harvard; Paul Thomas, R-Wonder Lake; and Gloria Van Hof, D-Crystal Lake, voted yes.
Voting no were board members Terri Greeno, R-Crystal Lake; Eric Hendricks, R-Lake in the Hills; Carl Kamienski, R-Johnsburg; Matt Kunkle, R-Algonquin; Mike Shorten, R-Crystal Lake; Pat Sullivan, R-Algonquin; and Tracie Von Bergen, R-Hebron.
Greeno said she couldn’t support the solar projects.
“What I hold in contempt is the state of Illinois not allowing the constituents of McHenry County to have representation. My vote has been co-opted by Springfield and the courts, but I will be voting no,” Greeno said.
The county’s attorneys had warned the board last week, ahead of the Tuesday evening vote, that the board could risk contempt of court if it didn’t approve the farm.
Several members of the public had spoken at a county meeting last week and urged the County Board not to approve the solar farms.
Tuesday, the solar farm votes came before the public had a chance to weigh in, but residents spoke after the vote.
Several members of the public acknowledged that the state had forced the county’s hand on the solar farms, but some wanted to see the board hold solar developers accountable.
Resident Michael Stumbaugh said those who voted no were “brave.” He said most of the board didn’t want the projects but their hands were tied.
“We all know that,” Stumbaugh said.
He asked the board to keep fighting and said it won’t be solar farms they’re talking about soon but “forced housing” in inappropriate areas, wind farms and data centers.
“It’s coming. Please do not give up,” Stumbaugh said.
Johnsburg-area resident Renee Weigert said the board was in a difficult spot. She said Tuesday’s vote increases the County Board’s responsibility and wants the developers to be held accountable.
“We cannot change tonight’s vote, but we can demand transparency,” Weigert said.
Laura Salazar, another Johnsburg-area resident, said she saw the board vote yes and thought it was “very, very sad.” She said farmland is being given away. She recognized the board had to vote yes and she thought it was “wrong.” She added people need voices.
“I appreciate the fact that you’re our voice, but I don’t feel like our voices are being heard,” Salazar said.
The solar farms revote came as the board looked at several different referendums Tuesday, mostly driven by frustration over solar farm laws as well as the proposed BUILD Act, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s housing legislation.
Tuesday’s vote was not the first U-turn the board made in response to lawsuits. McHenry County has previously been sued over regulations placed on solar farms that solar developers said were tighter than what state law allowed. The County Board walked back the restrictions in early 2024 in response to the lawsuit, which was dropped.
Claire O'Brien is a reporter who focuses on Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Woodstock, Marengo and the McHenry County Board. Feel free to email her at cobrien@shawmedia.com.

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