After a discussion that included approximately 15 minutes of public comment and the reading of a written statement by County Commissioner Steve Wright, the Grant County Board of Commissioners allowed their previous six-month moratorium on commercial solar projects in the county to end.
Board President Ron Stewart gave the public approximately 15 minutes prior to the discussion on the existing solar moratorium, which was the last item on the agenda. Seven people spoke both for and against extending the moratorium. After allowing public comment up until the time set for the county Board of Finance meeting at noon, Stewart then allowed Commissioner Steve Wright to read from a prepared statement, which took him approximately 13 minutes to read.
After Wright read his statement, which closed with an assertion that the county’s Area Plan Commission Board has not acted on behalf of all the residents in Grant County. He further asserted that the APC has one thing in mind, specifically to keep development from coming to Grant County.
Stewart said he was going to suggest another six-month moratorium. He then asked Commissioner Mark Bardsley his position, saying that he already knew Wright’s position on the matter.
Bardsley said his intention would be to allow the current moratorium to sunset. As there was no motion or second to extend the moratorium, the existing moratorium, which had been approved during the Board of Commissioner’s Feb. 5 meeting, effectively ended Monday.
At the February meeting, Stewart had proposed a six-month moratorium on solar, which he said would add “an extended period for residents to share their perspectives. This decision aims to foster a comprehensive dialogue and ensure that the community’s concerns and opinions are thoroughly considered. I feel community feedback and collaboration is important and in the best interest of Grant County.”
At that time, Stewart said he wanted to take the six months to do more research, including into the solar ordinances in Madison and Delaware counties.
That vote followed several months of community members voicing concerns at county meetings regarding the current Grant County solar ordinance. Members of the public had been requesting a moratorium for some time prior to it finally being imposed in February.
During the meeting Monday, Bardsley said that with the sunset, the commissioner and the APC could “hammer things out” as it pertains to the solar ordinance through the rest of the year.
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