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Knox County board approves 100 MW Channel Cat solar farm conditional‑use request
Summary
The board approved CU‑0724, a proposal by Channel Cat LLC for a roughly 100‑megawatt, ~540‑acre solar farm with a 40‑year lease model; the developer said the project would power about 177,000 homes over time and include decommissioning escrow and pollinator plantings.
The Knox County Board approved a conditional‑use request for a Channel Cat LLC solar farm during its Nov. 25 meeting.
Committee discussion described the proposed site between Lenon Mills and Herman covering approximately 540 acres. The developer presented the project as a 100‑megawatt facility with a 40‑year lease model working with multiple landowners. Jeff Sergeant, identifying himself with Channel Cat Solar, told the board the 100 MW project would "roughly generate enough power to power 177,000 homes" and estimated about $20 million in additional tax revenue to the county over the 40‑year life span. He said the design uses driven posts rather than buried concrete, includes vegetative screening for adjacent residences, and provides for a decommissioning escrow required under an agricultural impact mitigation agreement overseen by the state Department of Agriculture.
Board members asked about tile and farmland impacts, vegetation under‑plantings (pollinator mixes), panel replaceability and decommissioning. The application had passed the zoning board of appeals unanimously before reaching the full board. The county board approved the conditional use on a roll‑call vote.
The approval authorizes the developer to proceed with required permits and construction planning; details on final permitting, timelines and county permit conditions will follow in public records.
