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Bourbon County debate on solar setbacks exposes limits of non‑zoned county authority
Summary
Commissioners heard hours of public comment and legal briefing on setbacks for industrial solar projects; counsel said the county can recommend setbacks but cannot force changes to private contracts without zoning or negotiated agreements, and commissioners agreed to continue public hearings and study options.
Bourbon County commissioners spent the bulk of their meeting on a work session about setbacks and future county zoning for industrial-scale solar projects, hearing sustained public comment and a legal briefing on the limits of their authority.
The county’s volunteer committee had recommended a 50‑foot setback with a tree buffer around project perimeters. Several speakers, including rancher Monty Keriker, described why they had chosen to lease land for panels and urged the commission not to adopt overly burdensome setbacks that would "kill" projects. Other…
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