CLINTON — Zoning administrator Angie Sarver reported her office had not received any contact from solar energy developers.  She attributed this in part to the deadline for the upcoming solar energy lottery.

“They know it’s too close in order to get all the paperwork, and part of it is getting a special use permit from the county,” Sarver said.

Since the state received more applications than there is funding available, the Illinois Power Agency conducts a lottery to award projects.  Originally the lottery was scheduled for February but was pushed back to April 10.

The lottery will fund commercial solar energy farm projects not individual residential solar systems.

Money for the solar projects is available through the Solar Energy Jobs Act, passed in 2016.  Illinois added about 1,300 solar energy industry jobs in 2018, according to The Solar Foundation.

Landfill requests classification change for chem waste unit

Upcoming projects at Area Disposal’s Clinton Landfill will include work to the former chemical waste unit for conversion to another use, landfill officials reported Monday to the county’s land use committee.

Clinton Landfill has petitioned the state to have the unit reclassified an industrial waste unit.  

The term “chemical waste unit” is used to describe a facility that accepts polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste.  When Area Disposal reached an agreement with the county to resume payments to the county from tipping fees, the company voluntarily relinquished its permit to accept PCB and manufactured gas (MGP) waste, so the chemical waste classification no longer applies.

The industrial waste unit will require only two liners rather than three, which will be part of the modification.

The state has not yet approved the reclassification.  An answer is expected May 15

Projects planned for the landfill require inspection by an independent engineer before submission to the state for approval of an operating permit.