Renewable Energy Projects Targeted For County

By Debby Stricker

Washington County may produce solar and wind energy in the future, based on interest of Pattern Energy and other renewable energy businesses.

Inquiries from five renewable energy businesses indicate that as much as a total of 12,000 acres could be used, said Zoning Administrator Matt Bierman. While solar panels would restrict continued agriculture use of a site, at least limited farming can be done around wind turbines.

Pattern Energy and its local affiliate Kaskaskia Renewable is targeting leasing 3,000 acres in the west part of the county near St. Libory for solar panels, according to Matt Bierman.

Read more about about it in this week’s issue.