Rice County tables New Leaf Energy interim use permit for Morristown Township solar
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Summary
The board voted to table an interim use permit request from New Leaf Energy for a 4.9 MW solar facility in Morristown Township until Dec. 16 at the applicant's request; commissioners also requested a future work session on solar policy and siting.
Julie Runkel, environmental services staff, reported that New Leaf Energy (on behalf of Poplar Grove Farms LLC and landowner Richard Nielsen) applied for an interim use permit for a 4.9-megawatt solar energy production facility in Morristown Township and that the item had been tabled previously. The applicant requested additional time after a recent meeting and staff recommended tabling again to the Dec. 16 meeting. "They are now requesting to postpone again... so we're requesting to table this until the December 16 meeting," Runkel said.
A public comment card from Megan Rogers was on file, but the item had already completed its public hearing so the speaker was not allowed to speak during the re-tabling vote. Commissioners discussed parliamentary procedure for re-tabling and confirmed it was appropriate to table the matter to the next meeting. The motion to table passed on a voice vote. One commissioner asked staff to schedule a work session early next year to review solar information, siting and policy.
Next steps: Item will return on Dec. 16 for further action or possible adoption after applicant and staff follow-up. Staff will coordinate any requested work session on solar topics.
