Published on September 8, 2026 9:24 pm
Last Updated on September 8, 2026 9:24 pm
Effingham City Plan commissioners voted to recommend the City Council approve a special use permit for a solar energy system.
The system would be developed on 30 acres north of the planned westerly extension of Airport Road and west of South US 45.
Jamal Batar of Harvest Renewables said there would be no glare and no battery storage. Batar said his company would pay $3.25 million to build a 69,000 volt transmission line. Once the system is completed, customers will get power at a discounted rate.
Batar said the project would generate $60,000 in property taxes for 30 years.
Commissioner Don Bushue voiced concern that more could be done with the property than the solar system. Commissioner Michael McHugh suggested that the project could provide some of the cost to develop the property.
The vote to recommend approval was not unanimous. Those voting in favor were Andrew Grunloh, McHugh, Brian Meyers, Jon Zerkel, and Ken Wohltman. Those voting against were Bushue, Clint Spruell and Cindy Vogel.
The Plan Commission voted to recommend the Council reject a special use permit for an Oxford House Volta at 1004 West Virginia Avenue. The Oxford House is already in operation, but the City had complaints against the structure as far as the number of bedrooms made available. Commission members also voiced concerns over the number of vehicles being permitted at the house.
Eight of the nine commissioners voted to recommend the Council reject the special use permit; Zerkel was the only member voting to recommend approval of the special use permit.
The Commission also voted to elect Grunloh as chairman, replacing Brian Hayes, who resigned from the group. Brian Meyers was elected vice-chairman.
