Hancock County committee seeks legal review of new state solar ordinance amid decommissioning concerns

The Hancock County Building, Grounds, Insurance and Safety Committee voted April 8 to ask the county States’ Attorney to retain a solar and wind attorney to review a new state solar ordinance and its decommissioning requirements. The meeting took place in Carthage and was called to order by Mark Hanson.

Justin Greeley, a visitor at the meeting, reviewed the ordinance and told the committee the county must be in compliance by June 1, 2026. Greeley identified decommissioning as the primary issue, saying a state-licensed engineer should determine the total decommissioning cost. He summarized the ordinance’s staged contribution schedule for the solar company: an upfront 10% of the engineer’s total estimate, 50% no later than the sixth year, and 100% before the eleventh year.

Committee members discussed whether to require landowners to assume cleanup responsibility after a weather emergency and raised concerns that accepting liability could expose taxpayers if insurance coverage does not apply and the county were found responsible. Members also noted other counties are moving to comply with the ordinance. Michelle Merritt moved that the States’ Attorney be asked to retain specialized counsel; the motion was seconded by Steve Finney and the minutes record that all members present voted aye.

The committee directed that any follow-up questions about the ordinance be submitted to Justin Greeley. The next procedural step recorded in the minutes is for the States’ Attorney to obtain legal advice; the minutes do not specify a timeline for that work or any cost estimate for retaining counsel.