Ground-mounted solar operations could be off the menu for a year if a proposed resolution ultimately passes.
The resolution, which seeks to establish a “moratorium” on applications to locate ground-mounted solar operations in unincorporated Hardin County pending the completion of the update to the comprehensive plan, was provided to the Resources and Community Support committee by Hardin County Judge-Executive Keith Taul at the body’s meeting Monday.
“It’s really putting a pause button on it for a little while,” Taul said at the meeting.
“Whereas, to best accomplish the goal of planned development, to avoid piecemeal rezoning or spot zoning and to accomplish consistent review of applications, the fiscal court has determined that good planning and development require that a temporary moratorium be declared for locating ground-mounted solar power operations until the completion of the current (comprehensive plan) update,” the resolution states.
Several members of Hardin County Citizens for Responsible Solar were present at the meeting to show support for the resolution.
The moratorium, if sent to and passed by fiscal court, would automatically expire one year from its passage, and could be cancelled or rescinded prior to the one-year automatic expiration date by a duly adopted resolution of the fiscal court.
Not everyone at the meeting agreed with the resolution.
Brian Zoeller, an attorney at Frost Brown Todd, said he represented several solar companies across the state. He said the moratorium shouldn’t single out solar as an industry.
“These concerns should be addressed through your planning process, not an outright ban of this activity,” he said. “No other activity in your county is banned categorically through a moratorium.”
Taul was asked by a property owner why solar was the only thing potentially under moratorium.
“One thing to consider is how much land it takes to accumulate any kind of energy from the sun,” Taul said. “It’s huge chunks of land, and generally speaking, it’s farmland.”
Zoeller contested Taul’s reason.
“With all due respect, judge, it’s inconsistent to say that you’re worried about big projects but only single out one type of big project,” Zoeller said.
The committee decided to table the resolution until its next meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. April 17 on the third floor of the Hardin County Government Building, 150 N. Provident Way, Elizabethtown.
There also appeared to be some confusion about who the actual members of the committee are. They are Patsy Whitehead, chairwoman; E.G. Thompson, vice chairman; Mike McNutt, animal control director; Lisa Pearman, treasurer; Rebecca Brady, human resources coordinator; and Taul.
Seth Dukes can be reached at 270-505-1413 or sdukes@thenewsenterprise.com.
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