Delaware County Council passes moratorium on solar project tax abatements
The Delaware County Council has passed a moratorium on any further tax abatements for solar energy projects. IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.
On its second reading on Tuesday, the motions to adopt, discussion, and unanimous roll call vote all took less than a minute.
Councilman Ryan Webb, who brought the measure to the council, thanked community members for showing support.
“I feel that this ordinance is, obviously, much appreciated, much wanted. Not really had any opposition to it.”
Read More: Delaware County Council votes against rescinding tax abatement for solar project
The moratorium adapts a Wells County ordinance banning such tax abatements. Counties use abatements as an incentive for companies to choose them. It typically gives them a break on some or all county taxes for several years.
When introduced in September, council members discussed that many alternative energy projects don’t need tax abatements to operate, so it wouldn’t stop those companies from trying to locate in Delaware County. But, Webb called it “a message” that Delaware County wasn’t interested.
“There’s 91 other counties in this community. Go see one of them. It’s not supported here in Delaware County.”
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Previously, council president Jessica Piper said that, like any other ordinance, if this county council passes it, future council members could vote to rescind it.
Webb was on the county council in 2021 when it granted two tax abatements to projects wanting to build near Gaston and Albany. Those projects have not yet begun construction.
What is currently stopping new projects is a separate moratorium that stops all new solar project applications, passed by the Delaware County Commissioners, that’s in place until March of 2025.
That moratorium is on any solar project anywhere in the county. It is not limited to agricultural land projects. It’s those projects that many residents objected to, and those projects that were the subject of a zoning use variance ordinance that the county spent years crafting. That came after coordinated opposition to the two proposed solar projects near Gaston and Albany.
Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host. Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.
