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Morrison County adopts one‑year moratorium on community solar and wind projects while staff reviews ordinances
Summary
The board adopted an interim one‑year moratorium on county‑jurisdiction community solar, solar farms and wind energy systems to allow staff time to study the comprehensive plan and revise ordinance language; meteorological towers were explicitly exempted from the moratorium.
Morrison County commissioners voted on May 5 to adopt a one‑year interim moratorium on community solar projects, solar farms and wind energy conversion systems that fall under county jurisdiction.
Land services staff said the moratorium gives the county a year to study the effects of allowing solar and wind development, review the comprehensive plan and update the ordinance. The version presented removed meteorological towers from the moratorium so towers used for short‑term measurement can still be considered through the county’s interim use permitting process.
Commissioner Wincher noted meteorological towers are temporary and that any approved tower would carry an end date under an interim use permit. Amy McKinley confirmed the planning commission will review any tower requests and that interim permits include removal deadlines.
On voice vote the board approved the one‑year moratorium and directed staff to study ordinance and plan changes. The board also separately adopted findings supporting a prior denial of a solar farm conditional use permit (Scribe/USS Solar).
