The Starke County Commissioners acted on two three-month moratoriums presented by the Starke County Planning Commission Monday morning.
Planning Commission Administrator Mary Beever presented a three-month moratorium on Commercial Energy Solar Systems and a three-month moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems in Starke County. The Planning Commissioners unanimously approved a recommendation to advance the moratoriums to the County Commissioners for final approval.
Commissioner Mark Gourley asked for the justifications surrounding the moratoriums. Commissioner Charles Chesak, who is a member of the Planning Commission, said the members would like to separate the Battery Energy Storage System portion out of the solar ordinance for further review as there are more standards that could be added to the ordinance. He said Planning Commission President Todd Jackson would like a better plan on fire protocols.
County Attorney Justin Schramm said they would like more time to decide more details on standards and conduct some studies to make the best determination for the county concerning Battery Energy Storage Systems. In order to do that, a pause was requested for both to conduct more research.
Schramm said the Planning Commission decisions on both moratoriums were certified last week. The Starke County Commissioners have the options of accepting the moratorium recommendations as presented, amend the proposals which would go back to the Planning Commission for consideration, or rejecting the moratoriums, giving the Planning Commission a chance to recommend a moratorium for a second time for the Commissioners to consider, or not act on it within 45 days which would deem it denied.
Chesak said it is now all in one ordinance and thinks there needs to be a pause to look at it the right way. Gourley stated that the time frame for a moratorium for Commercial Energy Solar Systems does not make sense at this point since this has been ongoing since 2018.
Chesak made a motion to approve the moratorium on the Commercial Energy Solar Systems. The motion died for a lack of a second. Gourley made a motion to reject the moratorium on Commercial Energy Solar Systems which was seconded by Commission President Don Binkley. The motion passed with a vote of 2-1 with Chesak opposed. It will now go back to the Planning Commission with written reasons for the rejections for further advisory action.
Gourley made a motion to reject the Battery Energy Storage System moratorium which died for a lack of a second. Chesak made a motion to approve the Battery Energy Storage System moratorium which was seconded by Commission President Don Binkley. The motion passed with a vote of 2-1 with Gourley opposed. The moratorium would include any permits.portion more closely.
