Title
Resolution committing Lake County’s economic development opportunity funds in the amount of $2,000,000, to Solarge for the sole purpose of Superfund site environmental clean-up and/or site preparation activities related to the proposed development at 1831 N. Pershing Road in Waukegan, Illinois.
Staff Summary
• As a recipient of settlement allocation funds, Lake County received $7,500,000 of Monsanto Settlement Funds in April 2023 and appropriated the funds for an undesignated use in November 2023.
• At the Board’s September 2025 meeting, $2,000,000 of the settlement funds was allocated for incorporated or unincorporated Superfund site environmental clean-up and/or site preparation activities related to proposed economic development opportunities in Lake County.
• Through Lake County Partners, staff has been notified that Solarge requests commitment of the funds as they work to finalize arrangements on the selection of Lake County as their proposed location.
• This action commits the $2,000,000 allocation to Solarge, for the purpose of Superfund site environmental clean-up and/or site preparation activities related to their proposed development in Waukegan, Illinois.
• Should the proposed development not proceed, or should Lake County not be selected as the location for the Solarge development on or before May 1, 2026, the funds shall remain in the County’s Economic Opportunity Fund for future potential development projects.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Lake County was a participant in the City of Long Beach v. Monsanto class action litigation concerning PCB contamination in certain impaired waterbodies; and
WHEREAS, Lake County received Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($7,500,000) in April 2023 pursuant to the class action settlement; and
WHEREAS, the settlement agreement imposed no restrictions on the use of the settlement proceeds; and
WHEREAS, in November 2023, the Lake County Board appropriated the settlement funds for undesignated purposes; and
WHEREAS, in September 2025, the Lake County Board approved a line-item transfer allocating a portion of the Monsanto settlement funds for environmental clean-up and/or site preparation activities at incorporated or unincorporated Superfund sites related to proposed economic development opportunities within Lake County; and
WHEREAS, through Lake County Partners, County staff has been notified that Solarge has requested a commitment of funds in connection with its proposed development, as it works to finalize arrangements regarding the selection of Lake County as the project location; and
WHEREAS, this action commits Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) of the allocated funds to Solarge for Superfund site environmental clean-up and/or site preparation activities related to its proposed development in Waukegan, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, should the proposed development not proceed, or should Lake County not be selected as the location for the Solarge development on or before May 1, 2026, the funds shall remain in the County’s Economic Opportunity Fund for future potential development projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the County Board of Lake County, that Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) from Account No. 101-1102040-72786 (Economic Opportunity Fund - Environmental Clean Up) is hereby committed to Solarge for the proposed development of the parcel located at 1831 N. Pershing Road, Waukegan, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such funds shall be used solely for environmental clean-up and/or site preparation activities directly related to the proposed development at the above-referenced address; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the funds shall not be disbursed or otherwise committed to Solarge, and shall remain in the County’s Economic Opportunity Fund for future potential development projects, if the proposed development does not proceed or if Lake County is not selected as the location for the Solarge development on or before May 1, 2026.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on March 10, 2026.