Residents, commissioners raise concerns about solar farms on wetlands in Dodge County

At the Dodge County Board of Commissioners meeting on Aug. 4, 2025, multiple residents urged the board to scrutinize proposed solar farms that they say may be sited on wetlands.

Larry Johnson, a resident who raised the issue during new-business public comment, asked why solar companies were being granted the right to build on wetlands and said he would pursue litigation "along with the county" if such development proceeds. Other public commenters echoed his concerns: Wallace Mullis suggested the county consider a data center ordinance to address land-use impacts; Howard Warnock urged that bonds be structured so the county could forfeit them if ownership of a solar facility changed and questioned who would be responsible for cleanup after storm damage; Dale Beck said he opposed solar farms; Sasha Mullis cited lawsuits in Texas tied to solar projects; and Stacey Purvis asked whether environmental impact studies had been done before permitting.

County Manager Conner Bearden replied that environmental impact studies are a state requirement. The board did not take formal action on solar rules or permitting at the meeting.

Why it matters: Residents described legal, environmental and post-storm cleanup risks they say are associated with utility-scale solar sited on sensitive land. If the county or private applicants move forward without clearer local standards, residents indicated they may pursue legal remedies or request ordinance changes.

What happened next: The board recessed for an executive session later in the meeting and subsequently adjourned without voting on any new solar-related ordinance or permit conditions.