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Plan commission to consider county ordinance pause in response to Senate Bill 425
Summary
Staff briefed the commission on Senate Bill 425, which defines "energy production zones" (excluding wind and solar) and allows a local one-year pause on siting and permitting; the commission voted to place a draft ordinance on the July 15 agenda for public hearing and recommendation to the County Commissioners.
Staff briefed the Monroe County Plan Commission on Senate Bill 425 and its potential local impacts. Under the bill's language, certain areas can qualify as "energy production zones," and the bill excludes wind and solar from that definition. The statute also provides authority for a political subdivision to adopt a temporary prohibition of up to one year on siting, permitting, or deployment of projects within its jurisdiction so the local authority can evaluate implications.
Staff said county staff proposes drafting a local ordinance to enact a one-year pause so the county can review the County Development Ordinance and identify necessary amendments to address the bill's provisions. Commissioners raised questions about what kinds of sites might qualify as energy production zones (discussion touched on former industrial sites and retired generators, quarries and mills) and about how the local ordinance would interact with state law.
The commission moved and seconded to place the proposed ordinance language and public hearing on the plan commission's July 15 agenda so the commission can consider a recommendation to the County Commissioners; the motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote. Staff said the draft ordinance and explanatory materials will be included in the July 15 packet.
