Zoning Board of Appeals - Zoning Hearing, 10-21-26

The McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals held a zoning hearing on October 21, 2026, regarding Pivot Energy’s request to amend a previously approved conditional use permit for a solar project in Coral Township. The amendment would add a 5-megawatt battery energy storage system to the proposed 5-megawatt solar facility, on a site with an approximately 42-acre fenced area. The hearing focused on battery safety standards, the project-specific hazard mitigation analysis, fire-department access and emergency response, flood conditions, electrical hazards, vegetation management, and decommissioning. Pivot said final equipment selection and project-specific documentation would be provided at a later permitting stage; board members and local fire personnel raised concerns about reviewing those details, site access, and responder training before construction.

The board took no vote on the amendment and continued the hearing to October 29, 2026, to allow members to review the information and testimony. A separate Pivot Energy solar-facility petition was also opened and continued. No contract award, purchase approval, or other procurement action was identified; the discussion concerned land-use approval and project safety rather than a government purchase.