Tippecanoe County adopts one-year moratorium on large-scale solar projects

The Tippecanoe County Board of Commissioners voted June 16 to adopt a one-year moratorium on large-scale solar energy systems in unincorporated parts of the county, approving an amendment proposed by county counsel that narrowed the ordinance’s scope.

The moratorium — described at the meeting as a pause to allow staff and commissioners time to review and update the county’s solar ordinance — was passed on its second reading after the board approved an amendment to delete language in the draft that had referred to exemptions for separate jurisdictions. County counsel Doug Mason said the deletion corrects a drafting error and clarified the moratorium applies only to unincorporated areas.

The moratorium and the amendment drew extended public comment from residents, advocacy groups and technical experts. Supporters of the pause, including residents living near the proposed Rainbow Trout (aka Rainbow Trout Solar LLC) site, told commissioners they seek stronger rules on decommissioning, drainage management, financial assurances and developer community outreach. Opponents and renewable-energy advocates said existing rules can be enforced and warned that a pause could chill solar development.

“Not because we want to stop solar or renewables in our county. That's not how we feel at all,” said Catherine Sobrialski, a member…