Council weighs stricter ground-mounted solar rules; staff to refine ordinance language

The Lincoln City Council spent an extended portion of its Feb. 26 committee meeting discussing proposed changes to ground-mounted solar regulations and received an informational update on the city’s community solar garden.

Council members and staff reviewed a draft ordinance that would remove ground-mounted systems from R-1 and R-2 residential districts, set a 12-foot maximum height, and require more stringent, opaque fencing where panels are visible from public view. “If the people come forward and say we’re having 15-foot panels, we can tell them no,” Mr. Bateman said while outlining the draft.

Several aldermen urged clearer code language about fence height. Council members worried that a 6-foot minimum fence could allow taller panels to protrude visibly above the barrier during parts of the day. “It would be a better experience for the applicant and more clear for the council if there were some pretty clear guidelines put in so that they understood what they needed to do,” one councilor said. After discussion, staff were directed to work with city attorney Mr. Woodhall and Mr. Hovlett to revise the ordinance language to address fence height at “full tilt” and sight-line concerns and to return the revised text to the council.

During the same discussion, Andrew (last name not provided) presented a solar savings worksheet requested by Alderman Parrott. He reported generation-only savings for the city’s solar facility: $30,757.70 in 2023 and $71,917.66 in 2024. He said 2025 savings were much lower due to an equipment failure at the community solar site: lightning damaged a control/interconnect device (referred to as a PME 5), which is an expensive interconnect switch. “It’s an interconnect switch. It’s about a $300,000 piece of equipment,” Andrew said. He said the asset is the responsibility of the utility partner and that the outage between Ameren and the solar contractor has reduced the city’s avoided-generation benefits; staff said they would press for repairs.

Council members also discussed permitting and special-use thresholds; under the draft, ground-mounted systems would require council approval and permit review so the council could determine fencing and other site-specific conditions. No vote to adopt an ordinance occurred; staff will return with revised draft language.

The council also heard that the city plans a roughly 20-acre community solar project in April that is expected to supply power to multiple city buildings, and staff said the project should produce long-term savings despite recent operational setbacks.

Staff direction: Mr. Bateman will coordinate with Mr. Woodhall and Mr. Hovlett to refine the draft ordinance and return it to the council for further consideration.