Fayette commissioners hold a public hearing on solar farm ordinance
The Fayette County commissioners introduced an ordinance that would set restrictions on where solar farms can be placed and establish requirements for the construction, operation and decommissioning of the facilities.
Over 100 people filled the meeting room, over 20 of whom offered comments about the proposal that would also govern in what zoning districts the utility-scale solar facilities can be built and how they are to be maintained.
“Today the most important thing is to get the input from everybody before making a decision on this,” said Commissioner Vincent Vicites before taking public comment. “The testimony today will be very valuable to us.”
Most of those who spoke expressed concerns about solar farms.
Beverly Dennis of Wharton Township got emotional questioning the potential environmental impact the facilities would have.
“I’m not looking out for myself because I’m in my 80s,” she said. “I’m looking out for my kids, my grandkids … and the farmers that live around here.”
Dennis also said she worried about the negative impact to her property value.
“I’ve worked hard all my life for what I got and I don’t want to lose it,” she said.
The proposed ordinance would restrict solar facilities to areas zoned for light and heavy industries, and even then, developers would need to obtain a special exception. It would also require all above-ground infrastructure to be at least 300 feet from other property lines and any township roads, 600 feet from a residential zoned property and at least 1,200 feet from any state roads.
State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa, who spoke at Thursday’s hearing, said she is not against renewable energy.
“But,” she said, “we must be thoughtful about how and where we allow these industrial projects to take root and what the long term cost will be, not just for us, but for our children and grandchildren.”
The public hearing came on the same day the Fayette County zoning hearing board denied a request for a special exception to build an 88-acre solar farm in Georges Township near about 30 homes and Albert Gallatin Area High School. A hearing on the request spanned several days and was attended by many who objected to the solar farm.
Doug Cart, vice president of Distributed Solar Development said he wanted to see lawmakers involve solar companies in the crafting of an ordinance.
“We respectfully urge you not to pass the proposed ordinance as is and instead work with stakeholders to craft an ordinance that allows for reasonable solar development that respects private property rights while preserving the agriculture characteristics of Fayette County,” Cart said.
Some residents said the ordinance was too restrictive. Several farmers, like Fred Dietrich of Jefferson Township, talked about how solar farms are a way to supplement income for struggling farms.
Dietrich said he had an active agreement with a company to build a solar farm that would not be allowed under the proposed ordinance
“You have to find a balance of what I want to do with my property and make a few dollars, against the other people’s concerns about being infringed on,” he said. “It’s a difficult thing.”
Dietrich said he took issue with the ordinance capping out sites at 30 acres.
“Why limit it?” he asked rhetorically.
If adopted, the ordinance will impact 31 of the county’s 42 municipalities. The 11 who will not be governed by the ordinance have their own zoning codes.