Randolph County commissioners disapprove Riverstart Solar Park 2 location after lengthy public hearing

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners voted to disapprove the proposed Riverstart Solar Park 2 site following a lengthy public hearing that drew dozens of residents on both sides of the issue.

EDP Renewables representatives introduced the Riverstart Solar Park 2 project as a roughly 100–125 megawatt commercial solar installation in Union Township and said they expect construction to begin in spring 2027 with operations by November 2028. Brad Dilger, EDP project manager (S31), told the board the company has an executed interconnection agreement, plans to use 500-foot setbacks and vegetative buffers, and points to prior local investments, saying, “Renewable energy has brought approximately $20,000,000 to local government, including $4,300,000 from earlier phases of Riverstart.” Tom Loturko (S32) added that the interconnection capacity in the area is nearly full, saying, “this is the last project that we can do in this area.”

Residents who spoke during the three-minute public-comment period raised consistent concerns about the project's local impacts. Andy and Nicole Collins (S21), who live inside the proposed…