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Residents press New Castle County Council to pause Port Penn solar proposal
Summary
Dozens of Port Penn-area residents told the council July 28 they oppose a proposed industrial-scale solar array adjacent to homes, raising concerns about groundwater, wildlife, historic sites and lack of notice; council members said they will review zoning rules but noted the proposal was submitted under existing by-right code.
Dozens of residents from Port Penn told the New Castle County Council on July 28 they oppose a proposed large-scale solar energy facility the community says would sit directly adjacent to family homes.
Joseph Ted Laws, who said he has lived in New Castle County for 71 years, urged the council to halt approvals, saying the project “does not fit into the character of that community” and asking for a moratorium while rules and guidelines are developed. Kevin Goldsboro, a Smyrna resident and veteran, told the council the site sits near ecologically sensitive estuaries and raised concerns about deforestation and stormwater impacts, saying panels “consume 85% of the land” they cover and can harm percolation and topsoil. Donna Laws, whose daughter lives within 150 feet of the proposed panels, said the family’s investment and their children’s safety are at stake.
Residents repeatedly said they received little or no direct notice and have organized petitions opposing the application (listed in the meeting as application 20260426 and attributed in remarks to Turning Point Energy). Cora Castle, vice chair of the New Castle County Board of Adjustment, urged council members to support the pay-and-resources changes for board members so volunteer panels can handle significant workloads; she also described the meeting burden faced by board members.
Council members acknowledged the concerns and described next steps. Councilman Carter said the use here was made by-right under an ordinance adopted in 2017 and that standards exist in chapter 40 (40.04) but may need review: “I think it’s time that it is reviewed and where it is and isn’t appropriate,” he said. Councilman Koneko, who said he attended a large community meeting in Port Penn, called for zoning reform and said the county must decide “does [this] fit the character [of the] community.” Council members stopped short of blocking the specific application at the meeting; several noted that projects submitted under current code may be grandfathered. The council closed public comment and said it will pursue further internal review of zoning and setback standards.
Next steps: council members signaled intent to hold follow-up discussions about rural zoning and large-scale solar siting; no additional formal county action on the application was recorded at the July 28 meeting.
