Foundry Works Solar extension

Says his 22-acre farm sits 701 meters from the proposed solar farm and he never got notice — he doesn't want it in his view or near the floodplain.

Believes leased farmers can't speak against the project publicly, and speculated the unsold energy and battery storage are why the project has stalled — she asked the board to say no.

Argues this isn't a true extension — five years in with a changed site plan, they should have to resubmit, and the NIPSCO substation land-use violation should be resolved first.

Says no new environmental plan has been filed since 2021 and federally protected wildlife — bats, bald eagles — protections have changed; supports solar but wants it done responsibly.

Lives directly across from the site; notes there's still no customer for the power and calls 3,000 acres the size of 500 Walmart supercenters — an inefficient use of land that won't come back.

Says the stalled project holds the neighborhood hostage; notes restarting would actually take only about three months versus the six-month extension.

Wants a current environmental impact report covering the substation and battery storage before any extension, citing fragile wildlife habitat in southern Lake County.

Attorney for Tom and Stephanie Barranco urged an unfavorable recommendation, citing visual blight, glare and heat-island effects, stormwater concerns, electromagnetic interference, and property-value harm.

Eagle Creek resident listed eight procedural reasons to deny, including changed parcels, an unchanged 2021 environmental record, and five years of no construction.

Repeated remonstrator argued the site's legal and environmental reality has changed — endangered bats, protected bald eagles, altered drainage — and asked the board to deny outright.

Direct neighbor argued there's no market demand for the power, solar is intermittent, and 3,000 acres of farmland is too big a sacrifice; 'deny it and be done with it.'

Pointed out the NIPSCO substation is in violation of county approvals and tied directly to the project — nothing should move forward until it's resolved.

Asked what 'cause' justified an extension — the board set three years, added two, and shouldn't keep moving the goalposts.