Letter: The clock is ticking: residents deserve action
On September 9, 2026, the Dubois County Free Press published an article regarding Dubois County Commissioner Chad Blessinger and the county’s examination of the Ireland Solar, or “Shamrock Project.”
The timing is difficult to ignore.
The article appeared on the very same day as the Community Town Hall in Ireland, where residents are once again raising some of the most pressing issues facing our community: zoning, solar development, and BESS (battery energy storage systems).
For residents who have been paying attention, this sudden appearance of action from county officials raises an obvious question: Why now?
This possible solar project has not exactly been a secret. The Commissioners have been aware of it for at least 10 months. In fact, the image accompanying this letter was copied from communications sent on Friday, November 14, 2025, involving one of the County Commissioners.
So the question isn’t whether county officials knew.
They did.
The question is why it has taken months of persistent pressure from residents before we are finally seeing what appears to be movement on issues that should have been addressed long ago.
Residents should not have to repeatedly demand action before elected officials begin addressing matters that could have significant and lasting consequences for our county.
With only two months remaining on the current moratorium, the clock is ticking. Yet, from the perspective of many residents, what we have witnessed so far looks far more like foot-dragging than decisive action.
Public meetings and carefully timed announcements may create the appearance that something is being done. But appearances are not enough.
Residents need action. Residents need transparency. And residents need to know where their elected officials truly stand.
The real test won’t be another meeting, another headline, or another public statement.
The real test comes in November; the moratorium expires in December.
At that point, residents will have a much clearer answer to a very simple question:
Were our Commissioners genuinely working to protect the interests of Dubois County residents—or were they simply buying time?
Time will tell us.
And residents will be watching.
Jared Harris
Dubois County
