Union County has officially closed its door to large-scale solar projects in the area.
Commissioners voted this week to restrict all unincorporated land in the county to what the board termed “economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar facilities.”
The decision came after years of discussion and delaying a vote, up to and including last month when the decision was delayed again until this week.
Commissioners said the decision was not easy, but given the number of projects in the area and dealings they’ve had with solar companies, they felt this was their only option.
“In spite of my own legislative apprehensions over the last year, it’s actually the solar companies that have brought me to this point of supporting this resolution because it’s gone from this contemplative exercise to an absurdity,” said Commissioner Dave Burke. “I don’t know how else to resolve it.”
Burke said solar companies have largely ignored the residents around project land and don’t always make themselves available to needs and requests.
Additionally, he said, despite concerns over property rights infringement, the action is legal and something given to the county commissioners by the State General Assembly.
“I appreciate the residents’ patience as we’ve matured this, but like I said, it’s the solar companies that have matured this for us,” he said. “But this has to end.”
While a majority of the residents attending were those in opposition to solar, a group of residents also showed up to support solar.
Ashley Beery, a resident who agreed to lease land to Samsung for the proposed Richwood Solar project, said she is disappointed in the commissioners’ decision. She said she felt the board singled out solar restriction saying it’s a way to protect farmland when it isn’t the only development that takes up land.
“Since you’ve now blanketed the county as anti-solar, you’ve taken the inch, I hope you go the mile and also stop housing developments and industrial buildings, because that’s taking up farmland too and that ruins views,” she said. “So, it’s only fair that you should look further on because you’re attacking us and you’re attacking farmers.”
Beery said the county would now miss out on tax money that would have come in as a result of solar development. The commissioners said, however, that’s not a complaint they’ve heard from residents.
Beery said that’s because those in support of solar are hesitant to speak up.
“The reason why the public doesn’t want to complain, especially the farmers, is because we’re harassed,” she said. “I get harassed in the stores, I get threatened online. My reputation has been ruined. So, that’s why people stay quiet is because they don’t want to be harassed.”
She said neighbors have also shouted at her on her own property.
“You don’t feel for us,” Beery said. “If you really cared, you’d listen to what the farmers have been telling you.”
Commissioner Burke said the decision was a struggle and it was made because they heard from township leaders that this was their desire. While the commissioners don’t do county zoning, Senate Bill 52 allows the commissioners to make this decision on behalf of the townships.
He said the bill also allows a pathway for residents to request a repealing of certain areas if a solar developer approaches them.
“That avenue exists, it’s not like it’s been cut off,” Burke said. “There is an avenue in place for that at the township level who exercises zoning.”
He said residents can go to the township, make the request and then the township can ask the commissioners to lift the restriction on the requested area.
The restriction also has 30 days before it takes effect, which county officials said is in place to leave room for a challenge by residents.
“It will be effective 30 days from today (Wednesday) and the reason is that the statute provides for a referendum window,” said Thayne Gray, assistant county prosecutor. “So, if somebody wanted to circulate a petition and gather the requisite signatures, it could go onto the ballot.”
Residents wishing to have a referendum would need to collect 1,000 signatures to officially put the measure on the ballot.
Gray said the commissioners’ decision doesn’t affect those projects that have been established or grandfathered or partially grandfathered in.