Land Use Committee: Monee Solar Projects Granted Extensions; Battery Storage Plans Dropped

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | December 2025

Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee granted time extensions for two separate solar farm projects in Monee Township. During the review, it was revealed that the developer has removed the battery energy storage systems (BESS) from both applications, and Board Member Judy Ogalla clarified her stance on the projects based on their proximity to residential areas.

Monee Solar Extensions Key Points:

• Project 1 (Monee Solar): Located at 26845 S. Will Center Road; extension approved 5-1.

• Project 2 (Monee Solar West): Located at West Pauling Road and South Will Center Road; extension approved 6-0.

• Major Change: The developer is no longer pursuing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at either location; the permits for those specific components will lapse.

• New Deadline: Special use permits for the solar arrays are now valid through July 17, 2026.

The Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, approved “first extensions” for two separate commercial solar energy facilities in Monee Township, giving the developers until July 2026 to obtain building permits.

The first project, Monee Solar, LLC, located at 26845 S. Will Center Road, was originally approved in January 2024. Staff reported that while the original approval included a special use permit for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the applicant has decided not to move forward with the battery component. The extension request applies only to the solar farm itself.

Board Member Judy Ogalla voted against the extension for this specific site.

“I would not have supported this,” Ogalla said, referring to the original vote in early 2024. “That is way too close to residential… I would be a no on that.”

The committee voted 5-1 to approve the extension, with Ogalla voting no.

The second project, Monee Solar West, LLC, located at the northwest corner of West Pauling Road and South Will Center Road, also received an extension. Similar to the first project, the developer has dropped plans for a battery storage system at this site.

Ogalla voted in favor of this second extension, distinguishing it from the first project based on its location.

“The second one is not near residential, so I would be supporting that,” Ogalla noted.

The committee voted 6-0 to approve the extension for Monee Solar West. Both special use permits are now valid through July 17, 2026.