Will County Board Unanimously Rejects Controversial Solar Farm in Troy Township

Will County Board Meeting | February 19, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously rejected a special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility near Shorewood following strong opposition from local municipalities and taxing bodies. The denial followed public comments highlighting safety concerns at a nearby intersection and conflicts with local development plans.

Pivot Energy Solar Proposal Key Points:

• Location: 58.067 acres at 26347 W. Baltz Road, Joliet (Troy Township), near the intersection of County Line Road and Route 52.

• Project Details: Proposed 8 MW co-located solar energy arrays (Pivot Energy IL 62 LLC and Pivot Energy IL 62b LLC).

• Opposition: 10 taxing bodies objected, including the Village of Shorewood, City of Joliet, Troy Fire Protection District, and Troy School District 30-C.

• Result: The County Board voted 0-19 to deny the permit, resulting in the failure of the motion.

The Will County Board on Thursday, February 19, 2026, unanimously rejected a proposal by Pivot Energy to construct a commercial solar energy facility on approximately 58 acres of agricultural land in Troy Township.

The proposal, located at the intersection of County Line Road and Baltz Road, sought a special use permit to construct two co-located solar arrays. While the Will County Land Use and Development Committee had previously forwarded the petition with a recommendation for denial, the full board delivered the final rejection in a 0-19 vote.

Prior to the vote, representatives for Pivot Energy addressed the board, highlighting efforts to mitigate community concerns. Pivot Energy representative Brittney Krebsbach noted that the company had offered a “healthy impact mitigation package” to the Village of Shorewood.

“We shortened the project lifespan almost by half from 40 years to 25 to free up that land sooner,” Krebsbach told the board. She added that the package included pre-annexation agreements and an estimated $350,000 increase in first-year tax revenue for local bodies.

Attorney Jim Griffin, representing Pivot Energy, argued that the project met all county and statewide siting standards. He reminded the board of Illinois Supreme Court precedent regarding comprehensive plans.

“Incompatibility with a comprehensive plan is not a basis to deny a special use for a project,” Griffin stated, urging the board to approve the measure with the 25-year lifespan condition.

However, the proposal faced a coalition of opposition from local officials. Shorewood Mayor C.C. DeBold spoke during public comment, emphasizing that the village’s objection was based on siting rather than opposition to green energy.

“The proposal of this project, Route 52 and County Line Road, has already been deemed a dangerous intersection,” DeBold said. “We’re currently working with IDOT to improve this into a roundabout. Matter of fact, we had an accident there two days ago.”

DeBold listed ten objections filed against the project from entities including the City of Joliet, Troy Township, Troy Fire Protection District, Minooka Community High School, and the Grand Prairie Water Commission. He noted that the site is directly across the street from the village’s corporate limits and argued it would negatively impact future residential and commercial growth.

Land Use Committee Chair Frankie Pretzel (R-New Lenox) initiated the motion to deny the request, citing the area’s readiness for other types of development.

“This portion of the county is ripe for development of residential. It’s literally knocking on the door there,” Pretzel said. “To tie that up for 25 years with the solar project would be detrimental to not only Shorewood, but to Will County.”

Board Member Katie Deane-Schlottman (R-Joliet), who represents the district where the project is located, echoed the opposition. “I know this area very, very well and I know the residents in this area do not want this here,” she said.

Following the discussion, the board voted 19-0 against the measure, effectively killing the proposal. Two related variances regarding ground cover height and mowing frequency were also denied.