Area residents hold up signs hoping for a no vote on a proposed solar farm in Ogle County on October 21st, 2025.
OREGON — The Ogle County Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special use permit for Community Energy Initiative, LLC, allowing construction of a 3.5 MW community solar facility on 25 acres along the 8000 block of N. Pecatonica Road in Leaf River Township. The vote was 5-0, with the board finding all standards for approval were met. The permit was approved by the Ogle County Board by a vote of 11-10.
A separate request from Marion Township Solar 2, LLC to build a 4.99 MW solar facility on 33 acres along the 8000 block of N. Kishwaukee Road in Marion Township was denied at the same meeting.
A third petition from Summit Ridge Energy for a 2.0 MW solar project in Lincoln Township will be considered by the Ogle County Zoning Board of Appeals on October 30, with further review by the APZC on November 12 and the Ogle County Board on November 18.
Chairman Dan Janes of the Planning and Zoning Commission
“I don’t know what the LESA score is on that ground as of yet. I haven’t seen the paperwork on it,” he said. “But that’s probably what we’re gearing towards, is the quality of the land, location, and whatever we can determines to be positive or negative.”