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Franklin County adopts ordinance banning commercial solar farms and other energy facilities
Summary
Franklin County's Board of Commissioners voted June 22 to add a provision to the county zoning resolution prohibiting a list of commercial energy facilities, including ground-mounted solar, battery storage, data centers and wind turbines. The change was adopted as Resolution No. 69-0626.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on June 22 adopted Resolution No. 69-0626, which adds a new provision to the county zoning resolution prohibiting a set of commercial energy generation and storage uses.
The text entered into the minutes lists the banned commercial uses, including "ground-mounted solar energy conversion systems, battery storage facilities, data centers, solar farms, wind turbines, geothermal harnessing plants, biofuel generator plants and biomass power plants." The resolution was adopted at the June 22 meeting; the minutes record the motion as passed on a roll-call vote (15 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent).
Supporters said the change was intended to restrict commercial-scale energy production and storage in the county's rural areas. The measure appears in the minutes as Article IV, Section 18 of the Franklin County Zoning Resolution and took immediate effect upon passage.
The adopted text does not modify agricultural or small-scale rooftop installations directly in the wording entered into the minutes; it instead lists uses described as "not permitted" for commercial or industrial purposes. County officials recorded the adoption in the minutes and the Clerk certified the resolution for the county record. The resolution will be reflected in the county zoning code as of the June 22, 2026 adoption.
