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Planning commission schedules joint hearing on solar ordinance after public commenter raises safety and decommissioning concerns
Summary
County Attorney Chase Collins said commissioners must schedule a joint January 2024 meeting with the Board of Supervisors and a public hearing on a draft Solar Ordinance and siting agreement; a resident urged requirements for fire suppression, a 40-year commitment and accounting for salvage value.
The Tazewell County Planning Commission on Dec. 14 set up a joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors and a public hearing in January 2024 to consider a draft Solar Ordinance and a siting agreement, while a member of the public urged tighter requirements for solar projects.
County Attorney Chase Collins told the commission he is coordinating dates for a joint meeting because some portions of the ordinance and siting agreement remain to be finalized before a public hearing and vote. Collins said the intention is to hold the meeting in January 2024 but staff are still addressing outstanding items.
During the public-comment period, Robert Carlson of 1142 Lake Witten Road told the commission that solar projects "provide no jobs to the community," recommended the county require Tier 1 panels, asked for a 40-year commitment from developers, and urged that the ordinance include fire-suppression requirements and provisions to account for salvage value at project end. Those concerns were presented as public input; the commission did not take a vote on the ordinance at the Dec. 14 meeting.
Next steps: staff and county counsel will finalize outstanding ordinance and siting agreement language and coordinate a joint public hearing with the Board of Supervisors in January 2024. The commission's next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
