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A proposed community solar project on the closed Tri-County Landfill near Illinois Route 25 is making progress in Kane County, but county officials made it clear there’s still a critical Superfund-related agreement that has to be settled before construction can begin.
Here’s what to know:
Project overview: Tri-County Solar LLC is seeking approval for a 5-megawatt community solar facility on about 41 acres west of Route 25, just north of Stearns Road in St. Charles Township.
Site details: The property is a former landfill and Superfund site, which significantly limits what can be built there — making solar one of the few practical reuse options that doesn’t disturb farmland or nearby neighborhoods.
No digging into the cap: Because the landfill is capped, the panels would sit on a weighted “ballasted” system with no ground penetration, along with native and pollinator-friendly plantings and added wildlife protections.
The legal catch: Waste Management, which still oversees long-term cleanup obligations at the site, said a formal agreement is still needed with the applicant (Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure) to spell out who is responsible for protecting the landfill cap and remedy.
During a recent Development Committee meeting, county officials responded by adding a condition: no building permit can be issued until that agreement is in place.
If the full County Board signs off in February, the developer is aiming to start construction in mid-2026 and have the project producing power by the end of next year.
Read more about the proposed project beginning on page 29 of this agenda packet.
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