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White County commissioners continue renewable-energy review after public comments; decline data-center moratorium request
Summary
After a lengthy public discussion, White County commissioners heard residents and experts about solar, wind and battery storage rules, agreed not to pursue a data-center moratorium and instructed staff to advertise proposed wind/solar ordinance changes ahead of a vote scheduled for March 17.
White County commissioners spent more than an hour hearing public comment and staff briefings on whether to impose a moratorium and how to rewrite county rules for commercial-scale solar, wind and battery storage.
The commissioners did not accept a separate moratorium request for data centers, voting not to take that matter up. They directed county staff to advertise amendments to the wind and solar ordinance and said they will take a vote on the advertised ordinance at their March 17 meeting.
Why it matters: Commissioners and planning staff said the county is updating its comprehensive plan and zoning rules to address siting, setbacks, decommissioning and related agreements. Residents and area-plan commissioners urged a pause to allow those changes to be drafted and reviewed; developers and utility representatives warned that extended pauses can affect investment decisions.
Speakers and positions: Resident John Culver urged ordinances that protect property owners and said residents often learn of projects only after approvals are near complete. Becky (Area Plan Commission member) told the board that recent zoning amendments already tightened setbacks and that a moratorium could give the county time to complete a comprehensive plan update by consultant American Structurepoint. Nathan Baker, White County veteran service officer and a former renewables technician, urged the county to seek additional benefits from developers, such as discounted power for residents or other community concessions related to the scale of generation in the county. Andrew Wagner, speaking for a county renewable developer, said repowering projects are planned for Meadowlake 2 and Meadowlake 4 and described the company’s approach to power sales and community payments.
County staff briefed commissioners that solar is no longer allowed in A-1 zoning under recent amendments and reminded the board that major permits also require signed decommissioning agreements, road-use agreements and economic development agreements; commissioners can withhold signature on those documents to block a project that otherwise meets permitting requirements. Staff also noted the county maintains a spreadsheet tracking acreage committed to renewables; commissioners asked staff to return with precise acreage figures and with recommendations on whether to adopt an acreage cap as part of the comprehensive plan.
Concerns and next steps: The public raised recurring concerns about setbacks, property-value protections, decommissioning, and whether existing large-scale renewable deployments limit future industrial or housing development. Commissioners said they want to avoid “knee-jerk” decisions and prefer to let the comprehensive-planning process and consultant work play out while making ordinance edits now. The board asked residents and stakeholders to submit comments to planning staff so proposed ordinance language can be finalized before the March 17 vote.
Actions and outcomes: The board voted not to accept the area-plan request for a data-center moratorium (motion seconded; voice vote, motion passed). They directed staff to advertise the wind/solar ordinance changes and scheduled the ordinance vote for the March 17 meeting.
Ending: Commissioners said they will continue collecting public input and will ask staff to supply acreage counts and proposed ordinance language before the next meeting.
