Russell County moves to draft 2,000-foot setback ordinance after residents oppose proposed solar farm

At its Oct. 13 meeting, the Russell County Fiscal Court heard multiple residents oppose a proposed solar farm near the county and asked the court to act. The residents’ comments, delivered during the public-comment portion of the meeting, expressed strong opposition to the proposed new site for the solar park.

Ben Levy of Round Trip Energy, the company proposing the project, spoke to the court but the transcript records no direct quote from him. Several magistrates — including Magistrate Steve Richardson and Magistrate Larry Skaggs — said they opposed the proposal after the public comments.

County Judge Executive Randy Marcum told the court that, because Russell County has no planning and zoning authority, individual landowners are free to negotiate with developers. Marcum said a local ordinance could, however, set development controls such as setbacks from roadways or waterways and could include limits on project acreage. He specifically referenced the possibility of a setback of up to 2,000 feet from roadways and waterways as a deterrent to large projects.

Magistrate Richardson moved and Magistrate Skaggs seconded a motion directing County Attorney Kevin Shearer to prepare an ordinance that would impose a 2,000-foot setback from both roadways and waterways and include language to limit the acreage of solar projects in the county. The court voted in favor; the motion passed unanimously.

The court did not adopt the ordinance at the meeting. The next step is for County Attorney Shearer to draft language for a future court meeting where the proposed ordinance would be introduced, discussed and — if the court chooses — formally considered for adoption.