The Pulaski County Commissioners discussed placing moratoriums on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), carbon capture projects, data centers, and future industrial solar projects during their meeting last week.
Commissioner Jenny Knebel said the county has the ability to protect the health, safety, welfare and shared values when it comes to these types of projects and the county needs to have safety measures in place before any more developers submit paperwork for projects. She stated a moratorium would give the county a chance to put a pause on future developments so the right ordinances can be in place to protect the county.
Commission President Don Street asked County Attorney Jacob Ahler if each type of industry would need a separate moratorium and he indicated that it would be the proper way to do that.
In the end, the commissioners agreed to have Ahler draft paperwork for the commissioners to consider in terms of moratoriums to be sent to the Advisory Plan Commission members to approve, reject or amend. Further action would need to take place by the commissioners following action by the Plan Commission.
Knebel added that she is worried about agribusiness in Pulaski County and wants a new economic impact study done on the 26,000 acres leased for solar. She stated that a lot of the leases have not yet been recorded in the Recorder’s Office.
Documents will be reviewed in a future meeting.
