Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Energy and Environmental

Committee

Meeting Minutes

BATES, Tarver, Allan, Kious, Penesis, Strathmann, Young, ex-officios Roth (County Vice

Chair) and Pierog (County Chair)

Friday, October 17, 2025

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Co-Chairman Kious called today's meeting to order at 9:25 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Chris Kious

PRESENT

Board Member Ted Penesis

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Bill Tarver

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Board Member Mavis Bates

Board Member David Young

REMOTE

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. members Gripe*, Gumz*, Juby*, Lewis; Environ. & Water Res.

Dir. Wollnik; Recycling Coordinator Ryan; Sustainability Coordinator Powell; ITD staff

Peters; and members of the press and public Progressive Energy Group Founder and

Partner Arnie Schramel.

Remote Attendance Requests

Co-Chairman Kious announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting.

He asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Members

Strathmann and Tarver attending remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: September 12, 2025

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Deborah Allan

Public Comment (Agenda Items)

Kane County resident Steve Lefler stated that renewables for this year have surpassed

coal and electricity production worldwide. He noted that the cost of solar and battery

combined, including the technology innovations that have occurred are increasing at

exponential rates.

Environmental (J. Wollnik)

Discussion of Opportunities for Community Solar on the Fabyan Property

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik stated reminded the Committee that a

potential solar revenue source for Kane County coming from the Fabyan

property is currently being assessed. The purchasing department issued a

request for approval (RFP) to find out if there was any interest in developing

community solar on the Fabyan property. With assistance from the purchasing

department, and Founder and Partner of Progressive Energy Group, Arnie

Schramel, as the consultant, along with environmental and water resources

staff, they would make up the team that reviews the proposals that were

received. A recommendation would then be made to the Energy and

Environmental Committee to move forward with the community solar project on

the property.

Founder and Partner of Progressive Energy Group, Arnie Schramel, presented

information on Community Solar on the Fabyan Property. He stated that the

guiding principals are to find alternative revenue for vacant county land, return

state mandated renewable energy investments to Kane County, and lower

ComEd Electric costs. (Committee Member Tarver* left at 10:00 a.m.) By

lowering the ComEd costs, it would save money for county residents and

businesses, low income qualified families, and county-owned facilities. Schramel

noted that in order to install community solar, you need a special license from

the Illinois Commerce Commission, and be registered with the State of Illinois

Solar Program. According to the RFP, the solar unit must be owned and

operated by the winning bidder, with a direct land lease paid to Kane County.

Typically a lease option ranges from 25 to 35 years, with the solar company

assuming the tax obligation property. The Illinois tax law is based on the size of

the systems and the local tax rates. The size of the proposals varied anywhere

from eleven to twenty-five acres. The county is projected to have annual lease

payments between $100K to $130K per year, with property taxes paid by the

developer for the first year ranging between $20K to $40K. Schramel stated that

all three developers agreed to conduct a community-driven solar field, giving

preference to the county's facilities, and residents, to be the off-takers of the

solar production. Developers have committed to ComEd a range of $1.5M for

infrastructure improvements, and interconnection charges. Schramel added that

in order to qualify for the 30 percent federal tax credit, the projects have to start

by July 4, 2026, and be in production by December 2027. The next steps will be

for the county staff to review and recommend the best proposal, get feedback

from the Energy and Environmental Committee on any additions, changes, or

recommendations, schedule a Board meeting for a presentation and voting, and

obtain a legal review of the developer's contract terms. Further discussion

ensued. The Committee provided their consensus to proceed with preparations

and recommendations for the project.

2026 Energy and Environmental Committee Goals

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik reviewed the Committee Goals. She

suggested to remove the tree protection ordinance goal from the list. She

recommended Committee Members submit any new goal suggestions to her.

Recycling/Solid Waste (C. Ryan)

Recycling Coordinator Ryan reminded the Committee about a press conference for the

Regional Recycling Education Outreach Campaign that will be held on Monday,

October 20 at a recycling facility in Chicago from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Sustainability (S.Hinshaw)

Accepting the ComEd Powering Safe Communities Program Grant

Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw/Powell

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Ted Penesis

MOVER:

Bill Tarver

SECONDER:

Bill Tarver, Deborah Allan, Chris Kious, Ted Penesis, Cherryl

Strathmann, and Bill Roth

AYE:

Mavis Bates, David Young, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding Between Kane County and the

Conservation Foundation for the ‘New Trees for New Homeowners’ Nicor

Charitable Giving Grant

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Cherryl Strathmann

MOVER:

Deborah Allan

SECONDER:

Bill Tarver, Deborah Allan, Chris Kious, Ted Penesis, Cherryl

Strathmann, and Bill Roth

AYE:

Mavis Bates, David Young, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

New Business

None.