Huntington County: It looks like there will be a solar moratorium

At least 150 people attended the County Plan Commission meeting, many giving up their three minutes of public comment to others already speaking in the Huntington County Courthouse G.A.R. room. The overflow of attendees went into the hallway, who watched the meeting on a television screen.

Flanked by its attorney, the Huntington County Commission informed the Planning Commissions for Huntington County and the towns of Warren, Andrews, Markle, Roanoke and Mt. Etna, and the audience during the meeting that the Huntington County Commissioners will be approving the solar moratorium when it’s scheduled at one of its own future meetings, explained Huntington Commissioner President Tom Wall. County Commissioners Terry Stoffel and Rob Miller confirmed the comment after the meeting. They expect it to take seven months before there’s any resolution on the matter.

One public comment speaker called the meeting “a smoke screen” because the county has already decided what they planned to do.

Several public comment speakers included suggestions in their speeches of what the commissioners should do as they considered recommending the amended/repealed proposed ordinance by the individual towns and county plan commissions.

Those suggestions are adding a timeline, a sunset/end date on the moratorium, a cap on the number of acres used for solar production in the county, as well as a whole host of other issues.

The Huntington County Plan Commission ultimately recommended the moratorium for the county commissioners; however, the individual town plan commission votes had different results.

The end result is that the moratorium was tabled for Roanoke and Andrews plan commissions, because those commissions didn’t have enough votes to forward it to their town councils.

The plan commissions for Markle, Warren and Mt. Etna voted to recommend the ordinance to their town councils, which can vote on the measure.

During each of the individual communities’ commissions, a few plan commissioners commented.

For instance, Plan Commissioner Steve Park was concerned that the original ordinance and variances has holes in it, which allowed for the solar companies to apply for abatements and permits.

Commissioner James Sprawl urged commissioners to do their due diligence. He felt it meets the criteria and would like it to include a set date for ending the moratorium or a timeline.

Huntington County Council member Terry Miller questioned if the ordinance amends the current ordinance, and if the companies could or couldn’t get permits, because applications are for three years under current law and if it hinders current projects.

“This is pretty restrictive,” he said.

The ordinance would amend and repeal portions of Chapters 1, 2 and 6 for “Solar Energy System” standards.

In chapter 1, it prohibits a solar energy system in all zoning districts.

In chapter 2, it proposes to remove language allowing solar projects in an agricultural district, open space, utility service structure, station and yards.

In chapter 6, it defines “solar energy system” as “any free-standing solar array or solar arrays that have a combined nameplate power rated capacity of more than 20 kW of peak generating capacity” and deletes the medium and large systems.