Community Assessment
Name
Timeline
Project Type
Size
Location
Landowners
Land Use
County Profile
Located in southeastern Illinois near the state's eastern border with Indiana, Edwards County has slightly more than 6,000 people. Edwards has deep Red politics (84 percent Trump in 2020), nearly all ag land and an identity driven by its largest employer, a very large oil filter factory (Champion Laboritories, with more than 1,000 employees.)
Permitting
The sole body for permit approval is the Edwards County Board of Commissioners made up of three at-large commissioners. The permit is governed by a recently enacted Commercial Solar Farm Ordinance.
Strategy
Because clean energy is polarizing for many Trump voters and the county’s employment base depends on combustion engines, we face a potential buzzsaw in a very insular county. Yet we also have a strong predisposition to private property rights and a reasonable (and recent) solar ordinance. We need landowners to be the tip of the spear.
Initial messaging should emphasize strengthening family farms, protecting private property rights, due process, lowest cost electricity and tax revenue to support schools, public safety, road repair and other community priorities.
