“I’m not saying it was a bad gesture, but it’s not anything that would have us change a decision,” Erickson said. “It’s not going to change the economy or help the schools or cities to any degree.”

The amendments also require that the commission approve a siting plan for new transmission lines. They allow the county to issue a moratorium up to two years on new lines or electrical generation facilities if officials need time to study their impact “on the health, safety, morals, public convenience, general prosperity, and public welfare of the citizens of McLean County.” And they indicate that the county reserves the right to hold up a site permit “until any or all lands that are under mining control are released from their bonds and returned to private ownership.”

State officials like Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford watched the zoning dispute play out.

While he understands where the zoning changes came from, he said they’re “not friendly” toward future energy investment in the county. They could cause a company to think twice about approaching the county with a project idea, he said.

“They might never come to the table and ask if this is something that the local government would be interested in taking part in,” he said.