Will County, IL
Engagement Strategy
Will County has nearly 700,000 residents and is one of the five “collar counties” around Chicago. It’s a purple county that’s been a historic political bellwether.
Generally the county actively supports utility-scale solar. Yet, the more rural project area in the south is made up of working farms, including some with very large homes and wealthy owners, along with a strong history of activism. Our public affairs strategy must ensure that hyper-local NIMBYism doesn’t thwart overall favorable sentiment with the seven members of the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC), the Land Use and Development Committee (LUDC), and the 26 member County Board.
Following are our recommendations and actionable next steps to navigate this landscape. This document covers (1) situational awareness and initial strategic analysis and (2) a tactical plan for initial and ongoing community outreach.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS:
Will County is the fourth most populous county in Illinois with a population of 696,355. The current site for the project is in an unincorporated area in the southeast part of the county, which is mostly farmland.
A substantial portion of the county’s population commutes daily to Chicago. The northern suburban portion of the county hosts Citgo and ExxonMobil refineries and several major employers, including Amazon with more than 10,000 employees.
The southern part of the county is home to more than 800 working farms, covering almost 200,000 acres. In this part of the county, organized opposition to a proposed third regional airport has kept the project on a very slow walk, despite land acquisition starting in the early 2000s. Many of the airport opponents live, work, or farm in the areas closest to the Marsh Violet site, which could lead to a quickly organized opposition group to the project depending on public sentiment.
Also of note, a key decision-maker recently started raising concerns about the amount of ag land moving into solar uses and the resulting displacement of farmers who operate on leased land. Addressing these concerns will be critical to the project’s success.
We need a strong, early alliance with business leaders, the local Farm Bureau, Chambers, and regional environmental groups to permit and construct the project.
INITIAL STRATEGIC ANALYSIS (DOS)
Following is our Dangers, Opportunities and Strengths (DOS) analysis. A DOS analysis helps focus our situational awareness on the most important, actionable factors. Dangers are the potential problems that an effective strategy must avoid or fix. Opportunities are what we stand to gain if we act with intention. Strengths are the factors that give us confidence to take action.
Generally the county actively supports utility-scale solar. Yet, the more rural project area in the south is made up of working farms, including some with very large homes and wealthy owners, along with a strong history of activism. Our public affairs strategy must ensure that hyper-local NIMBYism doesn’t thwart overall favorable sentiment with the seven members of the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC), the Land Use and Development Committee (LUDC), and the 26 member County Board.
Following are our recommendations and actionable next steps to navigate this landscape. This document covers (1) situational awareness and initial strategic analysis and (2) a tactical plan for initial and ongoing community outreach.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS:
Will County is the fourth most populous county in Illinois with a population of 696,355. The current site for the project is in an unincorporated area in the southeast part of the county, which is mostly farmland.
A substantial portion of the county’s population commutes daily to Chicago. The northern suburban portion of the county hosts Citgo and ExxonMobil refineries and several major employers, including Amazon with more than 10,000 employees.
The southern part of the county is home to more than 800 working farms, covering almost 200,000 acres. In this part of the county, organized opposition to a proposed third regional airport has kept the project on a very slow walk, despite land acquisition starting in the early 2000s. Many of the airport opponents live, work, or farm in the areas closest to the Marsh Violet site, which could lead to a quickly organized opposition group to the project depending on public sentiment.
Also of note, a key decision-maker recently started raising concerns about the amount of ag land moving into solar uses and the resulting displacement of farmers who operate on leased land. Addressing these concerns will be critical to the project’s success.
We need a strong, early alliance with business leaders, the local Farm Bureau, Chambers, and regional environmental groups to permit and construct the project.
INITIAL STRATEGIC ANALYSIS (DOS)
Following is our Dangers, Opportunities and Strengths (DOS) analysis. A DOS analysis helps focus our situational awareness on the most important, actionable factors. Dangers are the potential problems that an effective strategy must avoid or fix. Opportunities are what we stand to gain if we act with intention. Strengths are the factors that give us confidence to take action.
Dangers
- Potential opposition in the wings. People choose to live in the area because it fulfills their bucolic dreams. Perceived industrial uses aren’t what they signed up for.
- Farmland loss. One of solar’s biggest dangers today is the perceived impacts from loss of farmland. Anytime solar is proposed on currently producing land, you can count on this argument coming to the forefront.
- NIMBYism. Influential landowners exert their influence with the argument that this is the wrong place and the wrong time because this is the last area of the county that’s still almost exclusively open space and agriculture.
Opportunities
- Make the economic case. You have a strong story to tell with tax revenue, community benefits agreements, local construction spending, and charitable giving.
- Build a massive network of support, starting with key landowners. In a county this large there are a plethora of influential community members to reach out to, both close to the project and countywide.
- Leverage state and county renewable energy goals. Frame the project as fulfilling existing policies with a thoughtful, thorough siting process.
Strengths
- A solar-friendly county. A solar-friendly ordinance, other successfully permitted projects, and an overall pro-renewable sentiment should mean no heavy lifting to get project approval.
- Hundreds of thousands of potential supporters. We can readily identify and mobilize an army to counter any NIMBY opposition.
- A streamlined permitting process. Solar development is not new to the county. There are no “unknowns” in the process, and the likelihood of being blindsided by process changes is very low.
Goal: Develop dialog and relationships with County staff and key influencers.
These contacts will help develop a tailored approach to the benefits of the Marsh Violet project. Listening carefully in this phase will surface concerns, as well as opportunities, and help identify essential partners as the project moves forward.
These contacts will help develop a tailored approach to the benefits of the Marsh Violet project. Listening carefully in this phase will surface concerns, as well as opportunities, and help identify essential partners as the project moves forward.
- Define the added benefits. For example, broadband access in rural areas of the county, mental health care access, and rising costs for farmers have been raised in the election as critical local issues. Also, can we work with any displaced land lease farmers? Can we help quantify and mitigate the local economic impacts of taking this land out of production? Is there soil research to support? Can we work with unions to expand training in renewable energy installation skills? Help local schools maintain FFA programs, or work with vocational institutes to develop green programs? More concrete investment opportunities will present themselves throughout the process.
- Make initial contacts. Vesper should proactively reach out to the County Zoning Administrator and County Development Director for information sharing and counsel on current conditions. The Administrator and Director carry a countywide perspective and can provide insight into the opportunities and concerns that drive members of the PZC and the Land Use and Development Committee, and the Board.
Janine Farrell, Zoning Administrator
Ron Pullman, County Development Director
In addition to county staff, Vesper should also start conversations with the Executive Directors of the two local Chambers, as well as the Superintendents of the two local school districts. Both will have a vested interest in the project becoming a reality, with a plethora of opportunities for economic development and community partnerships. They can also be great resources for leads on other potential advocates and partners in the community, as well as having insider knowledge on PZC and County Board Members.
Peotone Chamber of Commerce Executive Director - Rachel Eglar
Beecher Chamber of Commerce Executive Director - Kelly Weissbohn
Peotone Community Unit School District Superintendent - Steve Stein
Beecher Community Unit School District Superintendent - Jack Gaham
The overarching message in this development phase of the project is that Vesper is committed to being a good neighbor and a good-faith partner in Will County. It can contribute to local economic development, expand the local tax base for schools and public services, help retain agricultural land for the future, diversify farmer income streams, and create long-term partnerships. Vesper should be able to gain a roadmap to build a broad community network of support, have the capacity to incorporate community input into the special use permit applications at the front end, and understand the challenges it can face. In Will County, the tone of collaboration Vesper sets during the first few contacts and the work it does in the southern county will determine its outcome.
Goal: Use the knowledge gained through Vesper’s initial contacts to refine your message and expand your network.
As initial outreach contacts are completed, take a quick step back to evaluate what went well, what were the surprises, what was learned, and what follow-up is needed. The next tier of outreach should prioritize any connections the initial group of stakeholders recommends: landowners, energy, environmental and agricultural groups, labor groups, economic leaders, and schools. This is where Vesper starts to build longer-lasting, local relationships that demonstrate its long-term commitment to the area and its institutions, and its values, culminating in a group of grasstops leaders who can advocate with Vesper.
As initial outreach contacts are completed, take a quick step back to evaluate what went well, what were the surprises, what was learned, and what follow-up is needed. The next tier of outreach should prioritize any connections the initial group of stakeholders recommends: landowners, energy, environmental and agricultural groups, labor groups, economic leaders, and schools. This is where Vesper starts to build longer-lasting, local relationships that demonstrate its long-term commitment to the area and its institutions, and its values, culminating in a group of grasstops leaders who can advocate with Vesper.
- Landowners can become some of the company’s most effective assets in developing its broader network. They have already committed to the value proposition of the project and are excited to participate and want Vesper to be successful. They can help with introductions now, and then with community outreach and support throughout the process. When they are asked to be advocates, plan to keep them updated on progress and changes in the project.
- There are state and regional clean energy, environmental, and farming groups that can help build collaborative relationships in this area. Will County already partners with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association on solar education and outreach. The Illinois Solar Energy Association and its educational arm are also active in the Chicago region. The Nature Foundation of Will County supports the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s education, recreation, and conservation efforts and has a perspective on parks and open space. Openlands and the Sierra Club are active here.
Connect with local and statewide farming groups – they can be powerful allies as easily as they can be opponents. The American Farm Bureau traces its roots to Schaumburg, IL in 1919 when several states banded together for a Farmers Union. The Will County Farm Bureau can speak to local agricultural operations. Their membership is conservative, so economic diversification arguments are effective, but so are personal ones. Providing the chance to keep land in the family for future generations is a powerful message. Vesper’s actions in Will County can be positive if it understands and offers solutions for changes we might set in motion.
As the project progresses contacts should be made with Chambers of Commerce, schools, labor groups, and workforce training entities.
- Now that we have established a relationship with their executive directors, work with the Peotone and Beecher Chambers to speak directly with local business owners to talk about the opportunities and listen to their concerns. Join the group and start to build relationships in the communities closest to the project site. As the project progresses, reach out to the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce to build a broader consensus.
- In Illinois local revenues, primarily property taxes, fund most of the overall school district budgets with state and federal funding comprising the remainder. Approximately 44 percent of a local district budget is contributed by homeowners and businesses in the district. Will County has 28 school districts. With relationships with Peotone and Beecher under our belt from Phase 1, begin to reach out to other districts and local colleges as we seek additional public-private partnerships for STEM and other workforce development opportunities.
- Labor is a significant player in this county and several County Board members and key decision-makers are active advocates. Will and Grundy County Building Trades Council would be a starting point for discussions on skills and opportunities.
- Start building relationships with individual Will County Board members as they are the ultimate decision-makers for the project. They will look for strong support from the Board members in District 2, as well as leaders in agriculture, labor, and economic development.
*Redistricting will bring major changes to the County Board after the November election. The number of Board seats has been reduced from 26 to 22 and the district boundaries have changed significantly. At most, there will be 15 returning members, and the long-time leaders of both parties have chosen to retire. This provides Vesper a significant opportunity to provide early education about the project to new leaders throughout the County and incorporate their feedback.
Summary
Through the contacts made in this broader community engagement phase, Vesper will develop a network of community grasstops leaders and community influencers who can carry the project messaging to critical decision-makers alongside Vesper. This network can then be amplified through social media and traditional media as the project progresses.
