A company which had its plans for a commercial solar energy facility rejected by the Vermilion County Board is now suing the Board. Mural Energy LLC is asking the court for a judicial review of the County Board’s vote last month when it rejected plans to erect solar panels over 1400 acres of farmland. The land is in the southwestern part of Vermilion County in Jamaica and Vance townships.
Mural Energy LLC wants a judicial review of the county’s vote to commence within 90 days. The company claims it followed the provisions of Illinois’ Commercial Wind Energy Facilities and Commercial Solar Energy Facilities Act.
Only six County Board members voted in favor of the project last month. Thirteen voted to deny placing solar panels over what some say is the best farmland in the world. Three County Board members abstained, and five were absent when the vote was taken.
Lawsuits have been filed in some other Illinois counties where boards rejected similar projects. But some Vermilion County Board members note the wording in the siting ordinance they approved in May of last year. It says: ‘’The decision to grant or deny a permit application is within the sole discretion of the County Board.”
