Solar companies working with county to address concerns
At Monday’s regular Dubois County Commissioner meeting, Commissioner Chad Blessigner discussed ongoing conversations with EDP Renewables regarding the second phase of their solar project in the Duff area.
The company had come to the county to gauge their willingness to negotiate agreements to begin the process of expanding north of the railroad tracks crossing on County Road 600 West. With the moratorium in place, the county said any approvals would be on pause.
The company has expressed willingness to fund an independent engineer to serve as community oversight for the expansion.
The proposed oversight mechanism comes in response to community concerns about safety issues, setbacks, and traffic problems related to solar installations. Residents have raised questions about the safety of batteries and solar panels in the area, prompting discussions about additional monitoring measures.
The third-party engineer would act as the community’s “eyes and ears on the ground” for the project, with the county choosing the engineer and EDP covering the costs.
“We could do requests for proposals. We could find our own engineer, our own person, to do this kind of overseeing this work, and they would be accountable to us,” he explained.
Blessinger estimated the oversight would cost six figures, but noted the company’s willingness to fund what Blessinger described as “their own babysitter because they are confident that everything that they’re doing is above board.”
The third-party oversight model has been implemented in other similar communities, according to company representatives. Under this arrangement, the county would retain control over selecting and managing the independent engineer, while the solar company would cover all associated costs.
He said that both EDP and AES, another solar company operating in the area, plan to take a more proactive approach in addressing community concerns. Representatives from both firms are expected to present to the county board in the coming months.
The upcoming presentations will address specific community concerns, including radio communication issues, airport-related problems, glint and glare effects, and thermal runaway impacts. Officials plan to make company representatives available for public questions following their presentations.
“When somebody in the public comes and says, I don’t like this and I’m questioning this sort of thing, we are not content experts on that,” Blessinger explained. “Those people who have done dozens of these projects can probably answer some of those questions.”
“They need to be present,” Commissioner Serice Stenftenagel added.
County officials emphasize they are not asking the public to accept company explanations without question but want to ensure community members have access to technical expertise and evidence regarding safety measures.
Blessinger further stated that, in his own research, he found that solar projects are subject to extensive regulatory oversight and multiple safety requirements. He added that companies have financial incentives to maintain safe operations, as they want their installations to last in the long term without causing harm.
The discussions come as the county prepares for the end of its current moratorium on solar developments. EDP is expected to seek approval for its second phase expansion once the moratorium expires in eight months.
Officials plan to continue discussions with both solar companies over the next month and expect presentations from company representatives in upcoming meetings — within the next six weeks, according to Blessinger. These sessions will provide opportunities for detailed technical discussions about safety measures and regulatory compliance.
County officials stressed that no decisions have been made regarding EDP Renewable’s second phase expansion.
