Zoning committee adopts nine‑month moratorium on solar and battery‑storage permits while county drafts ordinance

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee voted to adopt a temporary moratorium ordinance — amended at the hearing from six to nine months — on consideration and issuance of permits for solar energy systems and battery energy storage systems. The moratorium will pause county processing of any new applications for the covered facilities while the county drafts and considers a formal ordinance specific to solar and battery energy storage siting and regulation.

Zoning staff reported a prior proposed two‑megawatt solar project in the Town of Round Lake that drew significant local comment and subsequently was withdrawn. Staff and county counsel said Sawyer County currently lacks an ordinance that addresses siting standards, decommissioning plans, visual mitigation, groundwater protections, noise and other issues relevant to large solar and battery projects. Counsel warned the committee the area is legally complex — involving state preemption questions, Public Service Commission activity and evolving case law — and recommended the county take time to craft a defensible local ordinance.

Committee members discussed appropriate length of the moratorium. County counsel advised the committee that ordinances of this type may be adopted as limited‑term moratoria and that any extension beyond the initial period should be justifiable and will receive greater legal scrutiny; counsel suggested one extension is typical if needed. Committee members amended the draft to set the moratorium at nine months to allow sufficient time for staff and counsel to compile model ordinances, solicit town input and prepare a draft ordinance for formal consideration and public hearings.

The committee approved the nine‑month moratorium on a roll call vote. Staff said it will continue drafting a model ordinance based on other counties’ examples and will circulate drafts to towns and the committee for input during the moratorium period.