VINCENNES — The solar ordinance established in 2020 for Knox County was sent back to the Knox Area Planning Commission for potential changes, but not before hearing from concerned community members about the impacts of solar — specifically farms — on the county’s rural land.
During the Knox County Commissioner meeting on Tuesday, Commissioner President TJ Brink and Vice President Tim Elleman Jr. voted 2-0 to send Ordinance 2020-2 back for consideration of potential changes that include the addition of regulations for wind energy and lithium battery storage.
Commissioner Kellie Streeter was absent from the evening meeting.
Brink addressed the crowded room and said that, as far as concerns for solar projects already in progress, legally, no changes to those projects can be made.
Changes made to the ordinance, if any, would be recommended by the APC, and from there, go back to the next commissioners meeting for approval or denial of the recommendations. If approved, those changes could only take effect on projects moving forward.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, many voiced concerns about the overall solar ordinance and ongoing projects.
Joe Holscher, a farmer and life-long resident of Knox County, shared with Brink and Ellerman Jr. that his concerns lie more with how close a solar farm can get to those who want to keep their rural land. He said he wasn’t speaking to take away someone’s rights on what to do with their property, but to speak up for those who don’t want to lease and are now finding themselves surrounded by solar arrays.
In the original solar ordinance, development standards for commercial solar farms stipulate that setbacks are required to be a minimum of 50 feet from all rights-of-way and side and rear property lines — with a minimum setback of 200 feet from the foundation of any existing residence.
Holscher said that he would like to see a larger setback required, and then leave it up to individual property owners if they allow closer. Holscher added that he knows this ordinance won’t completely stop solar farms from coming to Knox County, but with more requirements, it could help protect those still living in the area.
Many others spoke in general about solar farms and whether they are economically worth it, what the changes to property values would look like, how much this would affect energy costs, and how it would affect the area long-term, when it comes to growing crops, teardown of the panels and more.
Cheryl McCormick, who spoke on behalf of her husband, Ray, a farmer who has worked wth solar companies and environmental engineers, said that Ray had been working on projects to address these concerns, such as being able to grow crops under solar panels and how to overall manage the earth under solar panels.
McCormick said that she believes the change from coal energy to cleaner energy is something that needs to be done to help offset the rapid change in climate, which would likely have a future impact on growing crops, such as corn.
Knox County Area Planning Commission will discuss and consider changes to the solar ordinance during its Tuesday, Dec. 2 meeting at 6 p.m. in the Cancer Pavilion, Good Samaritan Hospital.
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