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Franklin County extends commercial-wind moratorium and temporarily adds commercial-solar pause through 2028
Summary
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 28 to draft and approve a new resolution (26-05) that extends the county's moratorium on commercial wind projects and places a temporary moratorium on commercial solar in rural areas through Dec. 31, 2028, to allow an update of the county comprehensive plan.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 28 to place a new temporary moratorium on commercial renewable-energy projects while the county updates its comprehensive plan.
Cole, a county staff member, told the board the goal is to avoid opening the county to projects before officials can frame regulations. "The legitimate, reasonable, valid concerns always boil down to how these projects could impact our rural quality of life, the natural beauty in the county, and the pursuit of agriculture," Cole said, arguing that those concerns apply to both wind and solar.
Derek, a county staff member who introduced the agenda item, recommended drafting a new resolution. Derek said extending the moratorium through the end of 2028 would give the county time to complete a comprehensive-plan update; "through the end of 2028 would be a reasonable time frame," he said.
Under the proposal discussed by staff, the new resolution—numbered 26-05—would extend the existing moratorium on commercial wind projects and add a temporary moratorium on the planning, establishment, construction, application for, or permitting of any special-use permits (SUPs) for commercial solar projects in rural areas of Franklin County through Dec. 31, 2028.
Commissioners said the pause would allow county planners and the board to consider regulatory frameworks and avoid unforeseen consequences observed elsewhere. One commissioner said the change is "about the comprehensive plan" and supported delaying new approvals until that work is complete.
The board moved and seconded the resolution language and took a roll-call vote; commissioners present voted to approve the action to proceed with the new resolution to extend the wind moratorium and add solar through Dec. 31, 2028. The board instructed staff to draft the resolution for formal adoption.
Next steps: staff will draft Resolution 26-05 for the board's consideration and will incorporate the residency and land-use questions raised during the discussion into the comprehensive-plan process.
