After hearing a request by neighbors concerned about a potential solar farm near Cloverdale, the Putnam County Commissioners will not be placing any restrictions on solar energy applications in the near future.
Attorney Eddie Felling appeared before the commissioners Monday on behalf of a group calling itself the Putnam County Rural Preservation Society, which Felling described as interested property owners who do not want to see the proposed project come to fruition east of Cloverdale.
The project, known as 4Leaf Solar, is a planned project that developers estimated will generate 300 megawatts of new solar energy, enough to power more than 50,000 homes each year. Representing an investment of more than $400 million by developer energyRe, the project has yet to appear before any county boards for planning and zoning purposes.
energyRe has, however, begun making its presence known with advertising and editorials having appeared in the Banner Graphic and other community involvement, such as sponsoring the sheep barn at this week’s Putnam County Fair — no irony considering the project plans to utilize year-round sheep grazing under and around the solar panels.
Felling, however, pointed to what he sees as “a major hole with regard to the decommissioning aspect” in the Putnam County Unified Development Ordinance.
Completed less than two years ago, the new UDO sets specific parameters for solar and wind energy development in the county, but Felling believes that in terms of decommissioning — returning the land to its original state once the solar farm has completed its life cycle — the county ordinance is lacking.
Felling noted that the UDO only requests a 25% decommissioning bond over the first few years of the life of the project, and only 50% through 10 years.
“Not only that, but you’ve got the eyesore and the concerns of the adjoining property owners,” Felling said.
Acknowledging that the county can negotiate a higher bond in individual cases, he said this can be tricky: “I can tell you that 90% of the negotiating is regarding decommissioning.”
Felling’s request was that at the next commissioners meeting, set for Monday, Aug. 4, they pass a resolution to place a moratorium on all solar applications for one year to go back and revisit the laws.
County officials, though, have been through this process before. Although the request ultimately failed by a 2-1 commissioners vote, an agreement was already in place two years ago for the proposed Cold Spring Solar Farm in Russell Township, including for decommissioning.
County Attorney Jim Ensley noted they had “very aggressively negotiated a decommissioning agreement” in that case and were told that it was much stronger than other solar projects elsewhere in Indiana.
Ensley also noted that the UDO was only a year-and-a-half old and that any such moratorium would need to go through the County Plan Commission before coming to the commissioners.
County Planner Lisa Zeiner added that the percentages Felling cited were only minimums.
The commissioners, even those who haven’t necessarily looked favorably upon solar projects in the past, were also not ready for a moratorium
“I think they are trying to throw stuff at us to make a moratorium,” Commissioner Andy Beck said. “At this point, I think it’s just too late to go about it.”
Commissioner Tom Helmer also indicated the time was not right.
“My opinion is that I disagree with doing a moratorium on solar or moratoriums on basically anything,” Commissioner Rick Woodall.
“I hope you understand why I approached it the way I did,” Felling replied. “No matter what happens with this request, I ask that the commissioners take a close look at that portion of the code.”
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