Planning will proceed for a large-scale solar farm just west of Macomb, despite concerns raised by some people who live near the site.
Pivot Energy plans to build the facility on 28 acres along 1000th Street, just south of the railroad tracks. Cambridge Property Group owns the land.
Though the property is just outside city limits, the city has zoning authority for 1.5 miles beyond its borders, and the site falls within that jurisdiction.
The land was zoned agricultural, so Pivot sought a special use permit from the city.
Several residents urged the city council to vote against the permit or at least delay its vote.
Monte Lowderman said he’s concerned about run-off into nearby ponds, lagoons, and creeks. He also said the power generated by the solar farm will be used by Ameren, whereas that area’s homes are served by the McDonough Power Cooperative.
“The city of Macomb is making the residential, rural neighbors live with something that will not benefit them in any way, shape, or form,” Lowderman said.
“We believe there are better locations for such a facility.”
Others who live near the site complained the solar farm will make noise, be unsightly, cause health problems, and reduce their property values.
They said the city made little effort to notify them about the project.
But city council member John Vigezzi said the city did send notices to those who live within 250 feet of the site, as required, and that a notice was published in the local newspaper.
Vigezzi also said the special use permit will enable the city to place some conditions on the project.
“(Such as) a wider vegetation, a taller fence, special use, those types of things. We’ve already looked at four or five additional items that can be done to make sure this is more appealing,” he said.
Vigezzi also addressed the concerns about noise, saying he stood next to a solar farm in Macomb and heard no sounds coming from it.
The council voted 5-to-2 in favor of granting the special use permit. Byron Shabazz and Don Wynn cast the dissenting votes.
The next step in the process is a site plan review.
The start of construction will depend on how long the site plan review process takes and any other compliance measures the applicant might need to complete.
Tri States Public Radio produced this story. TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.
Copyright 2025 Tri States Public Radio