The Lee County ZBA incorporated multiple state and federal agency findings into its findings of fact and attached conditions for the Pivot Energy petitions.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) EcoCat results, entered in the record, reported that adverse effects were unlikely and recommended steps including establishing pollinator‑friendly habitat, hiring an experienced ecological management consultant for long‑term habitat management, avoiding barbed wire fencing and providing wildlife‑friendly fencing gaps near public access areas. The transcript shows the ZBA adopted IDNR’s recommendations and required petitioners to engage an ecological management consultant and report on habitat management in annual filings.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report in the record listed several threatened, endangered, proposed and candidate species that may occur in the area (the minutes list species including the Indiana bat and monarch butterfly) and various migratory birds that may seasonally be present. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) notified petitioners that no historic properties were identified within the area of potential visual effects and no archaeological survey was required.

ZBA findings required vegetative screening along certain boundaries, supplemental tree‑lines in parts of the western boundary, and a pollinator habitat plan that will be monitored and managed. The board recorded that petitioners will follow IDNR’s fencing guidance to avoid barbed wire and preserve wildlife movement.