Manhattan Township

Solar Developer Commits Up to $800,000 for Smith Road Improvements

February 11, 2025/Comments Off on Solar Developer Commits Up to $800,000 for Smith Road Improvements
Spread the love

Summit Ridge Energy, a solar farm developer, has committed to providing up to $800,000 for the engineering and construction of improvements along Smith Road, Manhattan Township officials announced Tuesday.

The significant financial contribution is part of a road use agreement negotiated between Highway Commissioner Jim Baltas and Township Attorney Cass Wennlund. The funds are intended to subsidize upgrades needed to accommodate the developer’s project.

According to the meeting minutes, the $800,000 commitment is not sufficient to cover the entire scope of the planned project, which involves widening Smith Road from Cedar Road to Kankakee Street. However, officials stated that the funds will “subsidize the majority of the project.”

The agreement provides a substantial boost to the township’s infrastructure efforts, leveraging private development to fund public road improvements. Details regarding the timeline for the Smith Road project and how the township will cover the remaining costs have not yet been announced.

Latest News Stories

Biometrics privacy law’s territorial reach limited, appeals court says

Biometrics privacy law’s territorial reach limited, appeals court says

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Amazon has turned aside another attempt to use Illinois' stringent biometrics privacy law to extract a potentially big payout from the company,...
Watchdog says Biden Education Department defied court order on Title IX enforcement

Watchdog says Biden Education Department defied court order on Title IX enforcement

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education still has not released a final investigative report about allegations that the Biden administration ignored federal court orders on Title...
Congress skips town without passing $72B immigration enforcement bill

Congress skips town without passing $72B immigration enforcement bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In an epic breakdown of negotiations, Congress is leaving town without voting on Republicans’ roughly $72 billion budget reconciliation bill. Senate Republicans ultimately deadlocked Thursday...
EPA slashes regulations on refrigerants finalized during Biden-era

EPA slashes regulations on refrigerants finalized during Biden-era

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The Environmental Protection Agency is slashing some regulations on refrigerants finalized in the Biden-era in an effort it says will reduce grocery costs for Americans...
Illinois Quick Hits: State unemployment rate still more than 5%

Illinois Quick Hits: State unemployment rate still more than 5%

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s unemployment rate was unchanged last month at 5.1%,...
Mace amendment would spare Democrats she targeted

Mace amendment would spare Democrats she targeted

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a constitutional amendment requiring natural-born citizenship for members of Congress and federal judges, sparing the Democrats she targeted while potentially...
Illinois to require hidden ‘junk fees’ included in advertised price

Illinois to require hidden ‘junk fees’ included in advertised price

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In most cases when a person makes a purchase, such as on hotels, concert tickets and more,...
WATCH: Trump says Iran ‘won’t have nuclear weapon’

WATCH: Trump says Iran ‘won’t have nuclear weapon’

By Christen SmithThe Center Square As negotiations to end the Iran war continue, President Donald Trump says one thing is certain: the U.S. won’t let the nation have a nuclear...
Prescription board bill advances without money

Prescription board bill advances without money

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois may soon have a prescription affordability board to impose price caps on drugs, but questions are...
Feds charge 15 in $90M Minnesota childcare, Medicaid fraud

Feds charge 15 in $90M Minnesota childcare, Medicaid fraud

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Federal prosecutors announced charges against 15 people in Minnesota on Thursday in connection to Medicaid and childcare fraud costing taxpayers more than $90 million. Prosectors...
House GOP pushes Pritzker for local control

House GOP pushes Pritzker for local control

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Republicans say Governor J.B. Pritzker’s housing proposals will give local control to state politicians, but...
Illinois Quick Hits: Freedom Caucus urges DOJ investigation of Illinois

Illinois Quick Hits: Freedom Caucus urges DOJ investigation of Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Freedom Caucus is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether the Illinois...
Hundreds of Uber drivers demand union-permitting bill move in Springfield

Hundreds of Uber drivers demand union-permitting bill move in Springfield

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Nearly 400 drivers for platforms like Uber and Lyft appeared at the Illinois Capitol, where they urged...
Summons issued to ISP, AG Cook County in FOID challenge

Summons issued to ISP, AG Cook County in FOID challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Officials with the Illinois State Police, attorney general’s office and Cook County state’s attorney have been summoned...
Pritzker knocks state progressives’ ability to pass new tax measures

Pritzker knocks state progressives’ ability to pass new tax measures

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ruled out the passage of many new tax proposals from progressive lawmakers before...