The Marshall County Plan Commission discussed a few items last week concerning solar farms.
According to Plan Director Ty Adley, the commission members decided to revise the solar ordinance pertaining to the bufferyard location to surround the perimeter of the project.
During last week’s Marshall County Commissioners meeting, they voted unanimously to recommend to the Marshall County Plan Commission to implement a moratorium on solar farms until more research can be obtained concerning decommissioning and water and ground quality. They also unanimously voted to deny the ordinance amendment presented to them in December as decommissioning needs to be addressed as well as commercial solar farms in general.
Adley said Commissioner Stan Klotz recommended a one year moratorium on solar farms 435,601 square feet or greater, which is just over 10 panel acres. The purpose is to address the decommissioning of solar farms in the ordinance.
Adley noted that the Plan Commission is looking to propose a zoning ordinance amendment to give a framework to make the work of the Board of Zoning Appeals consistent.
He did mention that several members of the public were in attendance and spoke about concerns of how solar farms would affect their properties, noise, glare, contamination and decommissioning of solar farms.
