The Homer Glen Village Board has delayed making a decision on a proposed upgrade to ComEd’s substation on Bell Road. Originally constructed in the 1950s, the substation is due for modernization, but village officials have lingering questions about the project.
Key Concerns and Objectives
Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike expressed concerns about how an upgraded substation would benefit the residents of Homer Glen. ComEd aims to modernize the substation located at 14546 S. Bell Road, incorporating weather-protected enclosures to boost grid reliability. According to Lisa Aprati, ComEd’s external affairs manager, the substation is integral to ComEd’s electric system, serving Homer Glen and nearby areas.
Support for the proposed improvements comes from the Will County Governmental League and the Will County Center for Economic Development. Aprati stated, “As energy demands increase and infrastructure ages, strategic investments are required for safe, reliable, and resilient electricity delivery. This project focuses on modernizing infrastructure, protecting critical equipment, enhancing system resiliency during severe weather, and ensuring the substation can meet future energy needs.”
Project Specifications and Enhancements
Jennifer Carroll, a project manager with ComEd, explained that some of the equipment at the Homer Glen substation has exceeded its lifespan, and replacements are unavailable. The planned modern facility aims to minimize outage durations.
“If we do have an outage, we want it to be as short as possible,” Carroll assured.
ComEd is seeking village approvals for construction of a 59-foot primary building and a 21-foot secondary building on South Bell Road. Plans also include a security fence with barbed wire, replacement of 11 old power line poles, installation of 21 new monopoles, expansion of the detention pond, landscaping developments, and a public rest area featuring benches, a trellis, and a butterfly garden adjacent to a bike path.
The proposed work is confined to approximately 4 acres within a 67-acre parcel near South Bell Road and West Martingale Road. The substation supports Homer Glen and other southwest suburban communities, though ComEd maintains confidentiality on specific service areas for security reasons. Discussions with local officials and stakeholders commenced in February 2025.
Board and Community Concerns
The village’s Plan Commission backed the project with a 4-1 vote in July. Trustee Rose Reynders raised questions about whether the proposal was driven by increasing energy demands from data centers. ComEd denied this connection, stating the project is focused on infrastructure development.
Reynders also requested exterior color options to ensure the building blends aesthetically with its surroundings. ComEd proposed a gradually lighter brick color palette to visually reduce the height appearance of the structure.
Concerns about lighting impacts on nearby homes and businesses remain. Neitzke-Troike noted discomfort with the proximity of the proposed building to local streets.
Trustee Mike Lepore requested a study on the potential health and safety impacts on residents and businesses. He compared the location to typical industrial zones where similar facilities are located and pointed to the nearby senior living development, residential neighborhoods, a school, and businesses as reasons for hesitation without further assurances.
Freelance reporter Michelle Mullins contributed to this report for the Daily Southtown.