Solar moratorium update draws renewed opposition and debate over prime farmland and viewsheds

Delaware County Commissioners reopened discussion July 7 on a temporary moratorium and proposed changes to the county's utility solar ordinance after receiving new public input and developer interest.

The matter matters because the moratorium and ordinance define where large utility scale solar projects can be sited, how farmland and environmental constraints are treated, and what protections landowners and neighbors can expect. The county faces competing public views: some residents called for an outright ban, while county staff and some commissioners described potential brownfield redevelopment opportunities.

Commissioner Brand updated the board on interest from Holocene Clean Energy, a company that has submitted letters of interest for multiple brownfield locations in the county and described possible project sizes “as small as 10 to 15 acres … in the 5 to 10 megawatt range.” He said the company had approached owners of three large brownfield sites. "I'm really encouraged by this and I think that's a great reuse for some of our brownfield, our large former industrial sites," Brand said.

That update sparked public reaction. Several residents urged the county either to allow solar under clear rules or to completely reject it. Dan Berry of Eaton criticized the proposed ordinance changes and asked commissioners not to alter rules after landowners already signed leases: "I would venture to say that every landowner has a signed contract with a solar company that they believe will treat their property correctly while the solar panels are on the property. This is private property of the farmer, so I don't think the commissioners or the plan commission needs to micromanage what is going on for private property." Cheryl Dawson said she is concerned about language in a local transportation plan referencing former railroad land and asked how the county plans to use that land; she also noted an ambiguity in the written term "occupied dwellings."

Commissioners discussed the definition of "prime farmland." Commissioner Brand said a map showing most of the county in green does not automatically mean all that land meets prime farmland criteria and pointed to USDA/NRCS, FEMA flood maps and Indiana code as factors in the determination. "Just because it's usable land does not mean it's prime farm ground," he said.

Commissioners said they expect the planning commission to hold a public hearing on solar ordinance amendments, likely in August, and that they want the full planning commission present for hearings of this scope. No ordinance changes were adopted at the July 7 meeting; the county will continue the public comment period and schedule formal hearings.

Public comments at the meeting also included broader perspectives on regional renewable energy policy and fiscal implications; speakers urged the county either to adopt a clear, implementable ordinance or to preserve existing rules until a thoroughly vetted rewrite is prepared. Commissioners encouraged residents to submit written comments and watch for the August public hearing announcement.