Rice County approves zoning change to allow solar interim uses and signs off on multiple solar permits

Rice County commissioners on Nov. 18 adopted an amendment to the county zoning ordinance to allow solar energy production as an interim use in the Urban Reserve Industrial District and approved multiple interim-use permits for solar projects recommended by the planning commission.

Julie Runkel, environmental services, told the board the planning commission conducted hearings on several solar interim-use permit (IUP) requests and forwarded recommendations. The board voted to adopt Resolution 25-0406 to amend chapter 508 to permit solar energy production as an interim use in the Urban Reserve Industrial District; a roll call recorded Commissioner Malika voting No and Commissioners Peters, Boiesington, Perfurst and Underdahl voting Yes, and the resolution passed.

Runkel also presented specific IUP requests. The board tabled a 4.99-megawatt proposal from New Leaf Energy (applicant Cole Bearden, landowners Poplar Grove Farms LLC and Richard Nielsen) to allow the applicant to work with the city of Morristown; Runkel said the applicant requested tabling and she requested the matter return to the Dec. 2 meeting. On the record, Runkel said planning had recommended denial on that New Leaf item before the applicant sought a table.

The board approved multiple other solar-related interim-use permits that came with planning-commission conditions: a 1-megawatt IUP from Nokomis Energy for Carver Garden LLC (11 conditions), and several 4.95-megawatt permits presented by Dimension Energy on behalf of landowners Jeanette Rivers and Paul Reavers (each recommended with conditions). Votes on those permits were taken by voice and recorded as carried.

“Most of our interim use permits for solar have been 25 years,” Runkel said when commissioners asked about typical permit lengths. She added that some permits include no explicit end date but typically include a condition so that if energy production stops, the IUP will expire after one year.

What happens next: the tabled New Leaf Energy IUP was requested to return Dec. 2 for further coordination with Morristown; the zoning text amendment is effective as adopted by the board; individual IUPs carry the conditions shown in planning documents and will be administered through county permit processes.

Votes and motions: Resolution 25-0406 (zoning amendment) passed on roll call (Malika: No; Peters: Yes; Boiesington: Yes/Aye; Perfurst: Yes; Underdahl: Yes/Aye). Other IUP approvals and tabling actions were recorded as motions, seconded, and carried (voice votes) as listed in the meeting minutes.

Context: The planning commission had reviewed the IUPs and made varying recommendations; one applicant sought more time to coordinate with municipal officials, prompting a temporary tabling rather than a final decision.

The board will consider the tabled New Leaf Energy item at its Dec. 2 meeting if the applicant proceeds with the requested coordination.