Planning commission recommends one‑year moratorium on community solar and large wind projects while county updates rules

The Morrison County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the County Board adopt an interim ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on community solar energy, solar farms and wind energy conversion systems in unincorporated areas while staff and a working group review comprehensive‑plan policy and ordinance language.

Amy, Land Services staff, told the commission the moratorium’s purpose is to “preserve the status quo” while the county studies siting rules and policy. The proposed interim ordinance would create a working group composed of county commissioners, planning commissioners, up to two additional community or renewable energy representatives and land services staff to make recommendations to the county board. The moratorium as drafted would apply in the unincorporated county and would not affect small, on‑site residential solar for personal use.

The moratorium’s scope in the draft also covers meteorological towers used to vet wind projects; staff clarified that the draft does not allow the county to rescind already‑issued permits or to retroactively affect built projects. Staff and developers discussed a February 10, 2026 application cutoff that the packet uses to identify pending applications; commissioners debated aligning the ordinance term with that date so the practical pause does not exceed one year.

After public comment and discussion about working‑group membership and meteorological‑tower exemptions, the commission moved to recommend the interim ordinance language as presented; the motion passed. The County Board will consider the ordinance on April 7, 2026.