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Public commenter urges county leaders to consider agrivoltaics after Honeysuckle Solar tour
Summary
During public comment Cheryl Nicks described agrivoltaics at Honeysuckle Solar, highlighting sheep grazing, native pollinator plantings and local labor used for construction, and urged commissioners and council members to visit the site before considering an ordinance that could limit solar projects.
Cheryl Nicks of Clay Township told the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday about agrivoltaics at Honeysuckle Solar and urged officials to visit the project and speak with local farmers before considering zoning changes that could limit solar development.
Nicks read excerpts from a South Bend Tribune article noting Honeysuckle Solar reached 188 megawatts of capacity and used local labor for construction. She described a rotational grazing system for sheep moved among paddocks under panels, a seed mix of about 25 species that included 20 native species to support pollinators, and praised Gunthorpe Farms for integrating conservation and solar. “Agrivoltaics is the next big opportunity to allow us to grow and be very progressive,” she said, quoting a solar industry sustainability official in the article.
Nicks said antagonism toward solar farms is misplaced and expressed concern about an ordinance going before the Area Planning Commission that she said might limit interest in county solar projects, particularly given local demand from data centers.
During the meeting the location of the county Meet Your Farmer event was repeated: 30135 New Road in North Liberty. Nicks encouraged commissioners and residents concerned about solar to visit the Honeysuckle site and speak directly with farmers.
