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Commission weighs 8.5‑acre cap on 'large' solar projects
Summary
Commissioners debated defining 'large‑scale' solar as not to exceed 8.5 acres — a proposal supporters said would limit mass projects, while opponents (and a public commenter) warned it could push projects onto prime farmland and unduly restrict farmers' options.
Commissioners discussed adding an explicit size cap to the ordinance, with one member proposing that a 'large-scale' solar farm should not exceed 8.5 acres. The proposal was framed as an effort to avoid very large developments; supporters said 8.5 acres aligned with earlier AEP discussions and would protect scenic and agricultural character.
During public comment, Ben Wilson of Energy Right cautioned that an 8.5‑acre limit combined with 200‑foot setbacks could make projects uneconomic for typical local farms: "If you force them to not consider anything less than 15% or more than, excuse me, then you force them down to your prime farm land..." He argued the limit could deny farmers a viable income option. Commissioners said the definition could be put before the Board of Supervisors for final determination.
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