The Culver Town Council members discussed the possible moratorium on large industrial solar systems and utility scale battery energy storage systems.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Deny Request to Open More Land to Solar Development
The Starke County Commissioners denied a request Monday to make more land available for the Mammoth Solar Project near Bass Lake. A petition to rezone the Redlin property south of U.S. 35 was denied by a vote of two-to-one, with Mark Gourley opposing the motion. Rezoning the land from Commercial to Agriculture would have allowed for the placement of solar panels.
Continue readingGovernor Says Local Residents ‘Should Be Front and Center’ in Solar Project Discussions
While dignitaries from around the world converged on Starke County last week to kick off construction on one of the country’s largest solar farms, the reaction from local landowners has been mixed. Speaking to reporters after Thursday’s groundbreaking, Governor Eric Holcomb said he welcomes the input, when it comes to projects on an unprecedented scale.
Continue readingRailroad Township Residents Question Proposed Solar Development
A proposed Railroad Township solar farm drew a large and somewhat skeptical crowd to an informational meeting Wednesday. NextEra Energy Resources is looking to build a 144-megawatt second phase of the Dunns Bridge Solar Project in Railroad Township.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Makes Moss Creek Solar Project Eligible for Tax Abatement
Another planned solar farm is eligible for a tax abatement in Pulaski County. The county council passed a preliminary resolution Monday to designate the Moss Creek Solar Project as an economic revitalization area. Brian Young cast the lone opposing vote.
Continue readingDunns Bridge Solar Informational Meeting to Be Held in San Pierre Wednesday
The developers of a solar energy project proposed for the Railroad Township area will be meeting with local residents tomorrow. An informational meeting on the Dunns Bridge Solar Project will be held tomorrow evening, starting at 6:00 CDT at All Saints Catholic Church in San Pierre.
Continue readingKnox Council Holds Off on Final Approval of Solar Farm Standards after Developer Requests Adjustments
The Knox City Council will hold off on final approval of new solar farm standards, until some adjustments can be considered. Under the ordinance presented during Tuesday’s meeting, commercial solar energy systems within the city’s zoning jurisdiction would have to be located in an agricultural zone, at least 200 feet away from any homes, 100 feet from roads, and 50 feet from neighboring properties.
Continue readingKnox City Council to Consider Solar Energy Development Standards Tonight
The Knox City Council will consider solar farm development standards tonight. Under the proposed ordinance, commercial solar energy systems within the city’s zoning jurisdiction would have to be located in an agricultural zone, at least 200 feet away from any homes, 100 feet from roads, and 50 feet from neighboring properties.
Continue readingLt. Gov. Expects General Assembly to Revisit Solar, Wind Farm Regulations
Renewable energy projects could change the landscape of parts of rural Indiana, but whether that’s a change communities should embrace continues to be debated.
Continue readingPulaski County BZA Will Have to Revisit Mammoth Solar Project
Zoning approval for the Pulaski County portion of the Mammoth Solar project has been struck down in court. An order filed this week in Pulaski Superior Court found that the developer’s application for a special exception from the board of zoning appeals failed to meet the requirements of the county’s Unified Development Ordinance.
Continue readingStarke County Solar Projects Keep Moving Forward
Solar development is ramping up in Starke County, according to Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Lisa Dan. She told the North Judson Town Council Monday that the Starke Solar/Mammoth Solar project south of Bass Lake is expected to break ground in October, with construction to be complete by the summer of 2023.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Approves First Step in Mammoth Solar Tax Abatement Process
Pulaski County officials are hopeful that revenues from the Mammoth Solar development could pay for much of the Justice Center and Courthouse projects, even though the developers are requesting the maximum possible tax abatement.
Continue readingPulaski County Council to Discuss Solar Tonight
The Pulaski County Council is expected to get an update on solar farm development tonight. The council has been asked to consider a tax abatement for the Mammoth Solar project, but litigation over the project has delayed those discussions.
Continue readingFailure of House Bill 1381 Could Mean Higher Energy Costs, Warns Author
The failure of a bill to implement statewide standards for wind and solar development could ultimately lead to higher energy prices. That’s according to State Representative Ed Soliday, the author of House Bill 1381.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Consider Resolution Opposing House Bill 1381
The Starke County Commissioners considered a resolution Monday night that would express their opposition to House Bill 1381.
Continue readingPulaski County Commissioners Finalize Updates to Solar Regulations
The Pulaski County Commissioners have finalized updates to the county’s solar farm regulations, but not without some concerns from Commissioner Chuck Mellon. The commissioners Monday approved the amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance recommended by the advisory plan commission on March 11. The adjustments beef up setback and screening requirements, among other things.
Continue readingPulaski County BZA Approves another Special Exception for Mammoth Solar Project
A proposed solar farm has passed another approval round with the Pulaski County Board of Zoning Appeals. Board members approved a special exception request for the Mammoth Solar project Monday. It adds almost 4,700 acres to the project’s footprint.
Continue readingPulaski County Commissioners Pass Resolution Opposing House Bill 1381
Pulaski County has joined in the opposition against a bill that would shift control of wind and solar farm development to the state. The county commissioners passed a resolution Monday opposing House Bill 1381. Commissioner Chuck Mellon said the resolution expresses their “support for local control of land use decisions.”
Continue readingPulaski County BZA to Hold another Hearing on Proposed Solar Farm Tonight
Pulaski County residents will once again be weighing in on solar farm development tonight. The board of zoning appeals will hold a public hearing over Mammoth Solar’s request for permission to install solar panels on almost 4,700 acres of farm ground. They would be placed in three separate sections in Franklin, Jefferson, Monroe, and Rich Grove townships.
Continue readingPulaski Plan Commission Sends Updated Solar Regulations to County Commissioners but Proposed State Legislation Could Supersede Them
Updates to Pulaski County’s solar farm regulations got the approval of the county’s advisory plan commission Thursday. The proposed adjustments would beef up setback and screening requirements.
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