Manhattan Village Board Hears Pushback Against Massive Solar Farm and Industrial Expansion

Village of Manhattan Meeting | March 3, 2026

Article Summary: A grassroots leader warned the Manhattan Village Board about a massive proposed solar facility and looming industrialization, asking for local cooperation to protect rural boundaries.

Solar Farm Opposition Key Points:

• Watershed Committee Chairman Tom Becker presented concerns over a 6,000-acre solar facility proposal and broader industrial developments.

• Becker claimed nearly 11,000 acres of solar agreements and easements currently exist in Manhattan Township alone.

• The grassroots group is exploring the incorporation of a new district to legally protect 22,000 acres of farmland and green space from development.

• The group is threatening litigation against the zoning laws if the Will County Board approves the solar facilities.

The Manhattan Village Board on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, heard a stark warning from a local grassroots leader regarding the rapid encroachment of massive solar facilities and industrial development across southern Will County.

Tom Becker, Chairman of the Green Garden Township Watershed Committee, addressed the board during the public hearing portion of the meeting. Representing an organization that has worked to preserve local natural resources for over 20 years, Becker outlined his group’s fierce opposition to a proposed 6,000-acre solar facility.

According to Becker, a review of Will County records reveals an even larger footprint of planned development. He stated that there are currently almost 11,000 acres of solar agreements and four square miles of easements in Manhattan Township, with over seven square miles of similar agreements in neighboring areas.

Becker argued that the solar initiative is highly inefficient and environmentally hazardous.

“Illinois is the 49th worst state for solar in America. That’s due to the fact that we have almost cloudy conditions for almost half the year, and our peak sun in the winter is less than two and a half hours,” Becker told the board. “This is not green energy. The solar panels and the battery storage facilities all have toxic materials.”

He specifically raised alarms about the installation process, noting that the arrays are mounted using zinc-galvanized steel. Becker stated that galvanic corrosion causes the zinc to leach into the soil profile, preventing plants from absorbing trace minerals and potentially rendering the land unusable for future agricultural crops.

However, Becker emphasized that the solar farms are only one piece of a larger strategy to heavily industrialize the region, a push he linked to the promotion of the third airport. He pointed to the proposed 3,000-to-4,000-acre Earthrise facility to the east, a massive data center slated to be built a mile west of Manhattan, and additional data centers planned for Peotone and Green Garden.

“We believe this is about mass industrialization,” Becker stated. “This will industrialize our area and we will have no more residential growth. That will end, and we will transition from a rural area to an industrial one.”

While the group is currently utilizing petition drives and sign campaigns, Becker revealed they have a “Plan B” if the Will County Board approves the solar developments. He stated that litigation is already prepared with plaintiffs ready to challenge the laws that stripped away the area’s local land-use authority.

Beyond lawsuits, Becker officially asked the Village of Manhattan to help build bridges to form a new, incorporated district that would legally protect 22,000 acres of local green space, farms, and large-lot subdivisions. The proposed district currently encompasses 29 subdivisions and roughly 3,800 residents. Establishing such a boundary would require cooperative approval from the neighboring villages of Manhattan, Frankfort, and Monee.

“I think it’s time for us to look at our options and take a seat at the table,” Becker told the trustees. “We are looking at this as a realistic option of developing a protected area to protect our boundaries and preserve our quality of life. We need your guidance and your help to do this.”

The board listened to the presentation but, as it was a public comment item, took no formal action on the requests during the meeting.