CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — The Carbondale City Council has approved a solar power-producing station despite strong community opposition. The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reports the council voted 5-2 to allow a company called Brightfields to build the solar array at the former Koppers Wood Treatment plant. The Massachusetts-based Brightfields touts the fact that it produces “green energy” on “brownfields” — or former industrial sites with contaminated soil. Several residents of Carbondale’s Northeast community spoke against the development. City officials say the developers must control dust at the site and provide a neighborhood traffic plan during construction. They may not disturb contaminated soil and must repair damaged roads after completion. The company must also pay a fee based on energy produced. Acting Mayor Don Monty says that could be $500,000 a year.

Leave a Reply