Franklin County commissioners direct planning commission to study ban on commercial renewable energy systems

On April 30, 2025, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to direct staff to publish notice of a public hearing so the Planning Commission can consider amending the county comprehensive plan and zoning regulations to implement a ban on commercial renewable energy conversion systems.

Commissioners said the move is intended to allow a thorough public process on large-scale, industrial renewable projects that would convert agricultural tracts into energy production sites. Pat, planning staff, told commissioners that a Planning Commission review would include public hearings and that any planning-level changes would come back to the Board with a recommendation. “If there was interest from the County Commissioners you would need to direct staff to publish notice of a public hearing to have the Planning Commission consider and they would need to amend the zoning regulations,” Pat said during the discussion.

The board’s action stops short of adopting any ban: it directs staff to begin the formal notice and public-comment process. Commissioners discussed distinctions they want preserved in any study: limiting a ban to commercial-scale projects versus allowing residential or rooftop solar and small-scale farm installations. One commissioner noted that the term “commercial” and the specific activities covered should be fleshed out during Planning Commission review so the county does not unintentionally restrict ordinary property uses.

Public comment at the meeting included a resident who criticized industrial wind and solar installations. Norman Wilgie, who identified himself as a Franklin County resident, told commissioners he sees environmental and neighborhood harms from industrial-scale wind and solar and suggested nuclear generation as an alternative. “The windmills are notorious for leaking oil in their operation,” Wilgie said in public comment, adding concerns about blade disposal and neighborhood impacts.

Pat said the Planning Commission process would provide at least two formal opportunities for public comment (a Planning Commission hearing and a subsequent Board hearing) and that the Planning Commission’s role is to recommend whether to proceed and how to define any limits. The board’s motion was made and seconded; roll-call votes recorded by the clerk show all voting commissioners in favor.

Next steps: staff will publish notice of the Planning Commission public hearing to consider comprehensive-plan and zoning amendments related to commercial renewable energy conversion systems. No regulatory changes were adopted at the April 30 meeting; any change would require subsequent Planning Commission recommendation and a separate Board vote.