Potential solar park prompts commissioners to explore regulatory options
In response to interest from a national renewable energy company, the county commissioners are considering creating a process to approve such large-scale projects.
Commissioner Chad Blessinger stated EDP Renewables has an option on about a thousand acres near the Duff area to create a solar panel park.
The county does not have any type of zoning ordinances in place. Blessinger pointed out that about 25 years ago a zoning ordinance was considered but voted down by the county council with a 4 to 3 split.
In light of a lack of zoning ordinance, the commissioners only have a few options to regulate these types of projects. These include road-use agreements, right-of-ways and any potential tax abatement requests from the company to support the project.
In regards to this particular project, Blessinger stated he researched the company and a project they recently completed in Randolph County. EDP Renewables created a 200 MW solar panel park there. It is considered Indiana’s largest park by generating capacity.
Blessinger said he read through news reports on the project and reached out to county officials to see what issues arose during the process. He is expecting to receive an ordinance the county created regarding the project but noted, he didn’t find any issues that were raised during the process.
However, Blessinger said he still wants to explore ways to potentially regulate the installation of these types of projects.
Commissioner Nick Hostetter stated he was concerned about the end result of a large project that takes up a sizable amount of land in the county. He questioned what would happen after the 25- to 30-year lease is up and the equipment is potentially antiquated. “Is there any kind of clean-up involved? Are they just gonna walk away from it and the landowner has to deal with it,” he said.
To ensure the project is viable and the county is protected from any potential issues down the road, the commissioners directed the county attorney to research any other regulatory options that could be available.
two suggestions for the commissioners.
1. Look into this company instead of taking up land (and making the area a giant eye sore), how do you have them work within the existing manufacturing and housing footprint, for partnerships to install the panels on roofs/yards. That speaks to being advanced as a county more than taking up land does. It also directly benefits people and not the grid, where the cost benefit has nothing to do with people living here. The spot in Huntingburg is horrible in appearance, and stopped any development that way.
2. The standard layout for panels is old school. There are more cutting edge layouts and designs out there. Why deny the county future tax revenue on 1980s mentalities? At least be modern…
“Is there any kind of clean-up involved? Are they just gonna walk away from it and the landowner has to deal with it,” he said.
That is an important question that is rarely asked. Just look at the number of abandoned building in this area that we taxpayers are paying to tear down then look at this article about the Pence family. (https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-in-state-wire-columbus-politics-07f9256ae1984362ba3eff192b4d6dd0)
Unfortunately, It only feels like the question was asked because it is about renewable energy unlike other projects that may take land or cause waste.
https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-in-state-wire-columbus-politics-07f9256ae1984362ba3eff192b4d6dd0
Yeah but the above eyesore is just FINE, because it made a Republican RICH. And that dear readers, is the only important thing in their worldview. And the bull about solar parks being an eyesore is just that. Bull. I think they are pretty. Prettier than a stinky gross turkey farm with mountains of waste or a pen full of steers up to their ankles in crap and flies.
For another thing since when should the county council REGULATE some thing a private citizen wants to do with their land? I thought our dear REPUBLICANS were against big government overreach?