April 18—Boone County commissioners on Monday placed a moratorium on wind and solar farms while authorities review the county’s master development plan.
The current comprehensive zoning and planning master plan is 15 to 20 years old and did not anticipate rapid, large-scale growth, such as the LEAP Lebanon Research and Innovation district under development on as much as 10,000 hectares, approximately in the northwest quadrant of the province.
The plan also did not take solar and wind energy into account.
But Hexagon Energy, headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, is considering a solar farm in western Boone County. The park would be near Granville Wells Elementary School, located on Ind. 75 and County Road 500 South, north of Jamestown. The town of Advance is located north of the school.
And NextEra Energy has renewed interest in building a solar farm in the Zionsville area after the planning commission rejected its 2021 application for a 1,200-acre solar farm spanning parts of Marion and Union townships.
The companies would lease the land for about 40 years and then return the use of it to the landowners. The leased land in unincorporated areas of the province is intended for agricultural use.
Landowners have argued, among other things, that solar energy installations represent good stewardship of the land and allow some to maintain and enjoy their small family farms, that the land will rest and be rich in nutrients at the end of the lease that solar parks will keep large buildings up to standard. from their rural lands, and that they should be able to use their land as they see fit.
Opponents raise concerns about solar farms, including the economic viability of alternative energy, pollution, electricity rates, grid stability, property values, biodiversity conservation and more.
The Boone County Area Plan Commission asked commissioners in March to impose a two-year moratorium, but commissioners postponed a decision pending more public input and held a special public workshop earlier this month to discuss the discuss the disadvantages.
About 90 percent of the public who voiced opinions overwhelmingly supported a moratorium, Commissioner Jeff Wolfe said. This includes respondents who helped develop a recent neighborhood that aligns with the master plan to regulate commercial growth along unincorporated highways and major roads.
Wolfe, Commissioner President Don Lawson and Commissioner Tim Beyer expressed doubts about the moratorium.
“I don’t believe this is our best path,” Wolfe said, adding that he voted for the moratorium because the public “has stated that this is the route we should take.”
“I think operating within our comprehensive plan and our zoning ordinances is a much better, more permanent solution and gives us better control over what we’re looking for,” Wolfe said. “And the [the comprehensive plan] also allows us to take into account those individuals who want to be part of a solar energy project.” The moratorium, on the other hand, limits discussion until the update is complete, he added.
Wolfe also expressed disappointment that some solar farm opponents have apparently threatened physical harm to some landowners seeking to lease their land, although he did not identify anyone by name.
“Here in Boone County, we’re better than that,” Wolfe said. “And we shouldn’t do that to our neighbors.”
Beyer cited constitutional law in his response.
“I’m not really sure this is the best path forward as our zoning ordinance does not provide for this,” he said.
“One thing I would add is that we are here today because we have an out of control government that is spending money on things that they have no business spending on, and the reason they are doing that is because we don’t really know this . here, that’s the Indiana Constitution,” Beyer said as he showed a copy of it.
He said authorities are all turning to the Indiana code when looking for solutions and that the Indiana code printed on paper would be stacked five boxes high.
“All the power of the people is here,” he said, referring to the Constitution. “Every authority the government has is here. So if you want to control your government, you need to know this document.”
Lawson said instituting the moratorium was a difficult choice, but the comprehensive plan is outdated.
“We support the game,” he said. “And to make it fair for everyone, we need to update that as soon as possible.”
Commissioners will hire a consultant to update the master plan, and Lawson hopes it can be completed within 12 to 18 months, after which the moratorium will be lifted.
Proponents and enemies of solar farms, attorneys from both parties and developers of solar energy projects occupied the Connie Lamar conference room of the Boone County Courthouse Annex. Some set up chairs near the door to listen, but no one commented during the meeting.
Planning problem
In the meantime, Boone County Area Plan Director Stephen Elkins announced last week that he will be leaving his position for personal reasons and moving to another state after his last day, April 24. Elkins offered to serve the county remotely on a contract basis to alleviate problems in that office until the county hires his replacement.
