Tension is rising in Plano as a massive solar proposal keeps neighbors and labor groups at odds, with no clear end in sight. The Plano Plan Commission has again delayed a decision on the Plano Skies solar project, a roughly 1,500-acre development that could generate up to 250 megawatts of power. Commissioners set another public session for July 6 at Plano High School to gather more testimony and review technical studies before making any recommendation.
Plano Skies Energy Center LLC, a Savion subsidiary, has filed for annexation, rezoning, a special use permit, and several variances for about 1,524 acres and an up to 250 MWAC facility, according to the City of Plano. The application packet includes detailed maps, a decommissioning plan, and a projected schedule that anticipates construction starting in late 2028 and commercial operation beginning around 2030 if local approvals come through.
What The Solar Buildout Would Look Like
The proposal calls for single-axis tracking arrays, inverters, a project substation, and a gen-tie line of up to 600 feet to connect into a ComEd interconnection. Fenced array fields and internal gravel access roads are planned in a layout that, the developers say, would still allow agricultural activity around the panels. The project website highlights a memorandum of understanding with Tri-Trades unions and promotes an estimated $350 million in capital investment and about $52 million in new property tax revenue for local taxing bodies, according to Plano Skies.
Neighbors Versus Union Backers
At the latest Plan Commission meeting, two speakers presented studies in support of the development, while several residents lined up to air concerns about noise, construction traffic, and environmental impacts. Commissioners set the July 6 meeting at Plano High School to keep taking public input and to hear more from experts. Local outlet WSPY reported on residents’ worries and the ongoing tug-of-war between skeptics and supporters.
Studies, Safeguards, And What The City Is Weighing
The city’s application materials include an Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, a decommissioning plan, an electromagnetic frequency study, and a preconstruction noise study as appendices. These documents detail protections for topsoil and drain tile, vegetation management practices, and decommissioning security, items that will factor into how officials assess impacts and potential conditions for approval, according to the City of Plano.
What happens next: the Plan Commission will keep the record open and is expected to begin deliberations only after reviewing the technical appendices alongside public comments. If commissioners are satisfied, they will eventually send a recommendation to the City Council. Anna Chalupa, the project’s development manager, has said the team is listening and recognizes local unease, noting, “I understand that there are concerns,” as plans are revised and meetings with stakeholders continue, according to reporting by Data Center Dynamics.
