Franklin County extends commercial wind moratorium, adds temporary solar pause in rural areas

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 28 to adopt Resolution 26-05, extending the county’s moratorium on commercial wind energy projects and adding a temporary moratorium on commercial solar projects in rural areas through Dec. 31, 2028.

County staff said the earlier moratorium (Resolution 23-21) expired at the end of last year. "It would be resolution 26-05 and it would be extending the existing moratorum on commercial wind projects and also adding a temporary moratorum on commercial solar projects in the rural areas of Franklin County through December 31st," a county staff member explained during the meeting.

Commissioners framed the vote as a pause to give the county time to update its comprehensive plan and to consider rules other counties have used. A commissioner summarized concerns about the potential effects of large renewable projects on "rural life" and the county’s natural character; commissioners said those concerns warrant a deliberate review of land-use rules before permitting resumes.

The motion to approve Resolution 26-05 passed on a roll-call vote with all present commissioners recorded as voting yes.

The resolution applies to commercial-scale projects and, as presented, runs through the end of 2028; staff said the board can revisit or rescind the measure later. The board did not adopt new permitting standards at the session; staff advised that drafting a replacement framework and any regulatory changes would proceed through normal planning and legislative steps.

Next steps identified at the meeting included directing staff to begin a comprehensive-plan review, gather comparative regulations from other counties, and (if the majority wishes) prepare a proposed implementing resolution or ordinance for later consideration. The board’s action is procedural: it pauses permitting rather than approving substantive new restrictions at this meeting.