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State's attorney outlines amended solar ordinance, including fee and permit changes
Summary
The county's state's attorney presented revisions to the solar ordinance: fees lowered to $5,000 per megawatt (with a cited maximum of $125,000), building-permit cap reduced to $75,000, and special-use permits set for five years with a mandatory one-time extension. Board members asked for clarity on definitions and screening requirements.
The state's attorney presented an amended solar ordinance and highlighted key updates to fees and permit terms, saying, "I've provided you guys copies of the amended solar ordinance." He told the board the per-megawatt fee is now "strictly $5,000 per megawatt" and that the overall ceiling on fees was reduced in statute to $125,000. He also noted the building-permit maximum was lowered to $75,000 with a $5,000 building-permit fee.
The attorney explained the construction special-use permit now matches statute: "changed to 5 years, which is 60 months," with a mandatory one-time extension up to 24 months that the board must grant if requested prior to the start of construction. Board members asked whether material or technology changes during the permit term would require returning to the board; the attorney said substantive changes not included in the original application would require amended approval, while minor technology upgrades generally would not.
The presentation also added a required farmland drainage plan and updated setback and vegetative-screening language to align with statute. The attorney said he could answer further questions at the next meeting and planned to bring the ordinance up for a vote later this week.
