Despite the pleas of one individual to not adopt a proposed restrictive solar ordinance for Carroll County, County Commissioners adopted the ordinance which according to opponents will have the effect of preventing any solar energy operations in the county.
Jeff Raugh presented a written from Pattern Energy which stated that the proposed ordinance was written in such a way “that are pursued with the goal to effectively ban utility scale solar and other renewable energy facilities from being built within the county’s border.”
But despite his claims that it would be bad for the future of energy needs in Carroll County, as well as bad for farmers who would have more options with land use if they were permitted to choose to use their land for solar energy instead of crops, the two Commissioners present remained unmoved. Commissioner Loren Hylton, himself a Farmer, said that he thinks of the wind & solar as an “invasion” and government intrusion. “It’s about more than the money,” Hylton said, in response to suggestions that farmers could gain financially from solar operations on their farms.
“I think they are ugly,” Commissioner Steve Pearson said, adding that he was still not in favor of them. “People like the way it is,” Pearson concluded.
With that said, Hylton made a motion to accept the proposed solar ordinance, and Pearson made the second, which then passed 2-0 with Commissioner William Brown absent. Hylton them made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2024-11, with a second by Pearson, and adoption with a vote of 2-0.
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