The Marshall County Commissioners agreed to table the second reading of the solar ordinance Monday morning.
There are some items within the ordinance that the commissioners want to address, but since Commissioner Michael Burroughs was unable to attend the meeting for full attendance on the matter, the second reading was tabled until the next meeting on Monday, November 2, following the highway superintendent’s report at 8:30 a.m.
The commissioners placed a moratorium earlier this year on solar farm developments more than 10 acres. Since then, a task force met and put forth recommendations for amendments to be considered by the Planning Commission. They were approved by the Planning Commission and moved to the Marshall County Commissioners for a public hearing in September.
Setbacks and buffering boundaries were adjusted, along with the requirement of a security fence, plus wording that deals with the preservation of topsoil, minimization of deforestation, energy storage solutions, and a wildlife mitigation study. The preferred locations would place solar farms in Brownfields, industrial-zoned property, or marginal agricultural soils. Under the decommissioning process, if the facility has not generated power for six months, than it should undergo the decommissioning plans with a semi-annual generational report.
Equipment should be 95 percent recyclable.
The commissioners were concerned about the placement of solar farms on marginal agricultural soils as stated in the amendment, but wanted to review more information before making a decision.
The first reading of an amended ordinance was approved, but the commissioners were looking to make further changes for discussion in the next reading of the ordinance.
