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Residents split: some back moratorium, others urge county not to block landowner leases
Summary
Public commenters at the hearing were divided: some supported a moratorium to allow the county to craft stronger rules, while landowners urged the county not to block projects they said would bring lease income and jobs; speakers asked that developers and technical experts be included on the working group.
Public comment at the Planning Commission hearing reflected a sharp local divide over renewable energy development and the proposed moratorium.
Several residents urged caution and supported pausing permitting so the county can update siting and decommissioning rules. Aaron Ethan read state energy context and said he supported the moratorium; another resident cited past utility‑scale failures and urged attention to data‑center and battery‑storage risks. Those speakers emphasized the county should recruit independent experts for the working group to evaluate battery storage, data centers and decommissioning practices.
By contrast, landowners in northeast Morrison County urged the commission not to impede projects they said began outreach in 2024 and already include many participating families. Elizabeth Arns said landowners around her were “already getting paid for a lease of a land… like $30,000 a year plus our lease payment” and asked that industry representatives such as Joey Shannon be part of the working group. The hearing record shows commissioners acknowledged both perspectives and directed the recommendation to the County Board for a final determination.
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