LaPorte County planning commission tables proposed solar ordinance after heated public hearing

LaPorte County planning commissioners voted June 24 to table proposed amendments to the county’s solar ordinance after a public hearing that drew farmers, union representatives, industry advocates and opponents.

Supporters and developers argued the draft would block investment and local jobs. "Changing changes like those proposed are simply designed to kill solar jobs in our county,” said Corey Campbell, business manager of Laborers’ Local 81, who urged the commission to allow projects that would provide construction work for county residents. Industry representatives including Timothy Powers of Innovative Solar said the proposed revisions would act as a de facto ban on commercial solar and urged the county to keep its current, "thorough but workable," ordinance in place.

Landowners and farmers who spoke at the hearing described leases as a financial lifeline and emphasized that panels and associated infrastructure are temporary. "This farmland is gonna be temporary... I have a bond that says they have to put it back to the farmland when it's finished," said Bill Dankert, a LaPorte resident, describing decommissioning agreements he expects to see with projects.

Opponents raised concerns about setbacks, acreage caps, environmental testing and local impacts. Multiple speakers criticized the draft’s numerical limits: the ordinance as proposed included a countywide cap of 2,400 acres and a single-project cap of 400 acres, and required setbacks up to 1,000 feet from nonparticipating property lines and waterways. "If you'd like to pass a ban on solar, please be honest with the public and do that," said Tony Hendricks, who said the combination of setbacks, wetlands and waterways could leave little developable land and urged legal and GIS review.

Environmental and technical questions were also raised. Laurie Johnson asked whether the draft requires soil or water testing and how decommissioning will be enforced, noting that galvanized posts are driven deep into the ground and asking how the county will ensure safe removal and reclamation decades from now.

After roughly an hour and a half of public testimony and a short internal discussion, a commissioner moved to table the draft to allow the solar committee to review public suggestions and consult the county attorney and GIS staff. The commission then held a roll-call vote: Rita Beatty — Yes; Steve Holofield — Nay; Harold Parker — Yes; Joe Tacholski — Yes; John Carr — Yes; Jimmy Pressell — Yes; Eric Boynton — Yes; John Matwishin — Yes; Andy Chilpochek — Yes. The motion carried and the review was postponed to the next meeting in July.

Commissioners also reconstituted the solar committee to replace a departing member, adding John (last name not specified on the record) to join Harold, Eric and Steve.

What’s next: the ordinance draft will be revisited at the July meeting after the county’s solar committee meets again and staff follow up with legal and GIS analysis. The commission did not adopt any ordinance changes at the June 24 meeting.