PLYMOUTH – The Marshall County Plan Commission opened the floor to hear from citizens about their support or concerns for the possibility of solar farms in the county.
While the item was placed on the agenda as “other business”, the board made clear there would be no action taken on the matter in that particular meeting. The purpose of opening the floor was to gather information and concerns from the public.
The history of the issue was addressed at the outset since it has been ongoing in the county for a number of years.
Initially, the ordinance addressing the development of solar farms in the county bounced back and forth several times between the Plan Commission and the Commissioners to work out details and concerns for the proposed ordinance that would govern how the installations could operate in Marshall County.
Eventually, a committee was formed to go through the ordinance to make suggested changes and then sent back to the Plan Commission and was ultimately approved by the Commissioners.
The ordinance is now back before the Plan Commission as residents in the area want concerns addressed about the installations and how they will be allowed to operate. The current ordinance was enacted in 2019, but those opposed said that with the information that has been gathered since then, there were more reasons to be concerned about any projects proposed for Marshall County.
While the solar panels themselves were a concern the main concern seemed to be the placement of lithium batteries at the sites. Those speaking against the project pointed to multiple reports of the batteries catching fire at other installations.
The concern over the effects on groundwater from both the panels and batteries was also high on the list. It was pointed out that an aquifer is beneath the proposed property where the “farm” would be placed.
Along with groundwater, the plan for removing wastewater from the area was also brought forward along with how the installations would affect emergency fire response.
The point also came out about the terms of leases that were being offered to those where the array of panels and batteries were proposed to be placed.
While the details of those leases are secret, one landowner who was approached about their property gave those opposed a chance to see those terms which caused other concerns regarding the responsibilities of the energy company in dealing with specific concerns.
Setbacks for the facilities were also an issue with one patron stating that they should be at least the same as an airport which must be 500 feet from the property line.
In all, those opposed felt that the current ordinance gave the residents of the area under consideration “weak protection” on those issues and that the burden for addressing them should be on the shoulders of the energy company wanting to build the facility.
The lowering of property values in the area was also a major concern for those residents near the proposed solar farm.
The next step for the proposed revision of the ordinance will be for the Plan Commission to re-examine it and make any changes that they deem necessary. The board will take the matter up at a future meeting, and in the interim will digest the information given to them at the meeting and solicit more information and input to make that decision, however, the Plan Commission cannot make the final decision, they can only make a recommendation that the ordinance developed be passed. It will then be up to the Marshall County Commissioners to approve the new ordinance or send it back to the Plan Commission for more revision.
