SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / IL / Will

Will County, IL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Local solar ordinance barriers, board sentiment, and utility policies that affect development timelines and risk.

51.5
Risk Grade
Fair
Chicago SW suburb with rural southern fringe; very limited utility-scale near Joliet metro; some opportunity in far southern A-1 areas.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
696,355
State Rank
#22
Compliance
60%
Trajectory
80

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
State floor applies: ≥50 ft from property line; ≥150 ft from non-participating residence; ≥50 ft from road ROW. No county-specific setbacks above this floor.
Zoning Mechanism
Will County: CUP or Special Use Permit in Agricultural (A-1) district.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Mixed — suburban north, rural south
Basis for Assessment
Suburban Cook County fringe; ZBA proceedings increasingly contested 2022–2024; rural south receptive but northern suburban townships hostile; organized opposition in Peotone/Elwood areas; mixed board votes reflect deep north-south split within county
Political Risk Factors
Worsening
Board Members
County Board | Steve Balich | R | Term Expires: 2026; Julie Berkowicz | R | Term Expires: 2028; Herbert Brooks Jr. | D | Term Expires: 2026; Dawn Bullock | R | Term Expires: 2028; Daniel J. Butler | R | Term Expires: 2026; Elnalyn Costa | D | Term Expires: 2028; Katie Deane-Schlottman | D | Term Expires: 2026; Janet Diaz | D | Term Expires: 2028; Mica Freeman | D | Term Expires: 2026; Kelly Hickey | R | Term Expires: 2028; Vince Logan | R | Term Expires: 2026; Meta Mueller | D | Term Expires: 2028; Raquel M. Mitchell | D | Term Expires: 2026; Sherry Newquist | D | Term Expires: 2028; Judy Ogalla | R | Term Expires: 2026; Destinee Ortiz | D | Term Expires: 2028; David G. Oxley | R | Term Expires: 2026; Frankie Pretzel | R | Term Expires: 2028; Mark V. Revis | R | Term Expires: 2026; Jim Richmond | R | Term Expires: 2028; Jacqueline Traynere | D | Term Expires: 2026; Joe VanDuyne | R | Term Expires: 2028; Sherry Williams | D | Term Expires: 2026; Denise Winfrey | D | Term Expires: 2028; Jim Moustis (Speaker) | R | Term Expires: 2026; Additional member (26-member board) — board split 13R/13D; County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D)

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
PJM / ComEd (Commonwealth Edison) transmission zone
Utilities
ComEd (Exelon / Constellation), Ameren Illinois (southern portions)
State Permitting Process
Local permit: Special Use Permit (SUP) in A-1 Agricultural zoning via county Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and/or County Board; process and conditions vary by county ordinance. ICC CPCN: Illinois Public Utilities Act §8-406 — Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity required for ALL generating facilities >2 MW, regardless of local SUP status; ICC process runs parallel to county SUP. PA 102-1123 (signed Jan 27, 2023): Preempts county ordinances that prohibit wind or solar; sets state minimum setback floor of ≥150 ft from non-participating property lines and ≥300 ft from occupied dwellings. Counties may set higher setbacks but not lower; wind/solar bans enacted before 2023 are invalidated. PA 103-0580 (Veto Session fall 2023): Trailer bill reinforcing PA 102-1123 preemption framework; addressed specific county attempts to circumvent preemption. CEJA 2021 (Climate & Equitable Jobs Act): Illinois RPS targets — 40% by 2030, 50% by 2040, 100% clean energy by 2045; IPA Illinois Shines program administers FEJA/CEJA incentive tranches for community and utility-scale solar.
State Incentives
Illinois Adjustable Block Program (Illinois Shines): 15-year SREC contracts for net-metered and community solar projects; administered by IL SHINES program. Solar for All (SFA): low-income community solar program with enhanced incentives. Illinois RPS: 50% renewable by 2040 (Future Energy Jobs Act); solar carve-out drives strong SREC demand. Net metering: available for ≤2 MW behind-the-meter systems (ComEd, Ameren IL). PACE financing: available in many IL counties. HB 4412 (2024): updated solar siting framework; county commission approval required for projects exceeding acreage thresholds in unincorporated areas. Utility: ComEd serves northern IL (Cook + 10 counties); Ameren Illinois serves central/southern IL; electric cooperatives serve rural downstate areas.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Multiple community solar applications | 2–30 MW | 2018–2024 | ComEd territory Clearway community solar portfolio | Partial Will County component | Operational 2021 Elwood Solar (unnamed developer) | ~30 MW / ~240 acres | SUP Approved 2022 | Operational [Suburban Chicago SW fringe (Joliet area); A-1 land in far southern portions only; suburban pressure worsening; elevated setbacks apply]
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
Growing opposition near suburban areas — some applications deferred or conditioned heavily due to suburban proximity; specific denied project names not in public record

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Last verified: April 2026 (web research) | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes