A solar farm in Watseka, near the County Courthouse, is open for discussion. State’s Attorney Jim Devine will review the county’s lease arrangement on farm ground, now used for agricultural purposes.

A proposal from Microgrid Energy has stirred conversation. The Management committee heard about the offer (last week).
Iroquois County’s discussion is about making sure a bidding process is carried out.

County Board Chairman John Shure told WGFA News "there's some complications in that the ground is now leased for two years, so if something is to be done about solar farms, we'd have to have an amendment to the contract."

Shure said, "we may have to wait until the lease expired." he also said the proper way to deal with government property is to accept bids on the site from all interested."

Talks with the Microgrid Energy group was about an $800 per acre lease. Land acquisition would be the first step. Such a solar farm could be in operation by 2019 - 2020.

94.1 WGFA