Delaware County adopts updated solar zoning ordinance

This story has been updated.

The Delaware County Commissioners have adopted a new zoning ordinance for solar energy projects on farmland in the county.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

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00;00;00;01 - 00;00;17;03 Stephanie Wiechmann After considering small tweaks to the newest zoning ordinance recommended by the Delaware Muncie Metropolitan Planning Commission, the commissioners decided not to change anything to pass the ordinance Tuesday morning. Instead, Commissioner Stephen Brand says they've given additional clarification language to county employees that he says get daily questions. 00;00;17;09 - 00;00;33;27 Stephen Brand Our current zoning ordinances for Delaware County went to place in 1973, so they're over 50 years old. Every single day, somebody contacts the Planning Commission office and ask for clarification. What's the intent? What's the spirit? What's the purpose? This solar ordinance is not going to be immune from that. It's going to happen every day. 00;00;34;01 - 00;00;40;13 Stephanie Wiechmann Commissioners also wanted to leave in place a moratorium on those projects that was enacted in February. Again, Stephen Brand. 00;00;40;19 - 00;00;49;08 Stephen Brand I would like to put it out there, now that it's out there and see what kind of questions we get so we can do additional clarifications for the Planning Commission, they're going to get bombarded. 00;00;49;10 - 00;01;08;25 Stephanie Wiechmann But the text of the moratorium said it would automatically lift when commissioners adopted the new ordinance. The county has spent years deciding how to put solar panels to create energy on rural farm ground, or even if it should be allowed at all. Some companies have been interested in locating here since at least 2021. In Muncie, Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR news.

After considering small tweaks to the newest zoning ordinance recommended by the Delaware – Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission, the commissioners decided not to change anything to pass the ordinance Tuesday morning.

Instead, commissioner Stephen Brand says they’ve given additional clarification language to county employees that he says get daily questions.

“Our current zoning ordinances for Delaware County went into place in 1973, so they’re over 50 years old.  Every single day, somebody contacts the planning commission office and asks for clarification – what’s the intent, what’s the spirit, what’s the purpose.  This solar ordinance is not going to be immune from that, it’s gonna happen every day.”

Commissioners also wanted to leave in place a moratorium on those projects that was enacted in February.

“I would like to put it out there, now that it’s out there,” said Brand, “and see what kind of questions we get, so we can do additional clarifications for the planning commission.  They’re gonna get bombarded.”

But the text of the February moratorium said it would automatically lift when commissioners adopted the new ordinance.

Read More: Delaware County Council passes moratorium on solar project tax abatements

The county has spent years deciding how to put solar panels to create energy on rural farm ground – or even if it should be allowed at all.  There’s both coordinated support and opposition among Delaware County residents for the idea of solar energy.

Some companies have been interested in locating here since at least 2021.

UPDATE:  This story has been updated to reflect that though the commissioners wanted to keep the solar moratorium in place, lawyers for the body clarified it automatically lifted when commissioners adopted the new zoning ordinance.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.