Vanderburgh County tables agreements with Orion Renewable Energy after public concern

Vanderburgh County commissioners on Tuesday voted to table three county agreements tied to a proposed large-scale solar project by Orion Renewable Energy Group LLC after more than a dozen residents raised questions about environmental impacts, drainage, decommissioning and community outreach.

The tabled agreements are an economic development agreement, a decommissioning agreement and a roadway-use agreement that together would govern payments to the county, removal of equipment at end of life and repair of public roads damaged during construction. Reid Schmidt, an attorney for Orion, told commissioners the company had scheduled several public meetings and offered one-on-one follow-ups for neighbors. "We want to work cooperatively with the neighbors," Schmidt said, and encouraged attendees to bring written questions so Orion could prepare answers.

Why it matters: The project, as…