Commissioners open hearing on zoning amendment to limit community solar to on‑site use

The Morrow County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on a proposed zoning text amendment that would change how "community‑level solar" is categorized in the county zoning resolution.

Shelley, presenting a Planning Commission recommendation, asked the board to amend Action 14 of the zoning resolution to remove language allowing community‑level solar as a higher‑tier project and instead permit solar installations for residential or business (on‑site) use. The presenter said the definition would still allow a firm, association or organization to install solar on property for its own use, but the primary intent should be on‑site consumption rather than third‑party resale. She noted that any excess generation could be sold back to the utility subject to interconnection and power‑purchase agreements.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about where generated energy would flow and whether excess could be exported to the grid; Shelley confirmed that interconnection and power‑purchase agreements are typical mechanisms to allow excess energy to be sold back to utilities, but the amendment's focus is to preclude outside companies from installing solar primarily to sell power to others.

The board recessed to hold the hearing and later returned to regular session; a motion to approve business related to the agenda items was made, seconded and recorded on return. The transcript records the public‑hearing discussion and the Planning Commission recommendation but does not include the full text of the proposed ordinance amendment in the record provided here.