Massac County Residents Invited to Weigh In on Major 5,000-Acre Solar Project TONIGHT

METROPOLIS, IL — The landscape of Massac and Johnson Counties could be seeing a significant change, and local officials want to hear what you think about it.

The Massac County Board of Commissioners has announced a public hearing for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, to discuss a massive new commercial solar energy facility. The meeting will run from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Metropolis Elks Lodge 1428 on West 4th Street.

California’s SB Energy has announced the launch of a significant solar project that will span approximately 5,150 acres in Massac and Johnson Counties.

For those trying to picture the location, the proposed site is situated in an unincorporated part of the county, roughly two miles east of Belknap. Specifically, the development would cover portions of Sections 01, 02, 03, 11, 12, and 30 in Township 14 South.

Context on SB Energy

SB Energy (SE US Development, LLC) is a major player in the renewable sector, backed by SoftBank. They have recently completed the “Orion Solar Belt” in Texas and are aggressively expanding into the Midwest. This 5,000-acre project would be one of the largest in Illinois, rivaling the Double Black Diamond project (800 MW) located further north.

Large-scale solar projects of this magnitude (5,000+ acres) are often polarizing because they represent a fundamental shift in land use for rural communities. In Illinois, these projects are governed by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and Public Act 102-1123, which limit how much a county can restrict solar development while mandating certain protections for residents.

As of right now, final approval has not been granted.

The meeting occurring tonight, Tuesday, February 24, 2026, is the formal public hearing required before the Massac County Board of Commissioners can vote on the Special Use Permit.

The Approval Process Timeline

Under Massac County Ordinance No. 23-2 and the Illinois Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-12020), the approval process follows a strict sequence:

1. Application Filing: SB Energy submitted the formal application for the 5,150-acre project to the County Clerk’s office (where it is currently available for public review).

2. The Public Hearing (Tonight): This is the legal window for the community to provide testimony. The Commissioners act as a quasi-judicial body here, gathering evidence and hearing concerns about drainage, property values, and land use.

3. The “Recommendation” Period: Following tonight’s hearing, the board typically has a set window (often 30 days) to review the testimony and the technical reports provided by the developer.

4. Final Vote: The Commissioners will schedule a subsequent regular board meeting to officially vote on whether to approve the Special Use Permit.