00;00;00;06 - 00;00;10;20
Shannon Henry
As many people as we have against it. We have for it. This has been a tough decision. Now listen. Listen. Let me speak. Let me speak.

00;00;10;22 - 00;00;22;07
James King
Yeah, I mean, I I've been yelled at. I've been cussed. But what it is is I'm not the owner of the property. Not the one who signed the lease. I'm the one who has to regulate it.

00;00;22;13 - 00;00;41;07
Stephanie Wiechmann
Commissioner Shannon Henry and James King talked at length about how frustrating it's been to see the years long, contentious battle over the want of some for solar energy and the want of others to preserve farmland for only growing crops. Some county farmers signed up for two such projects as early as 2020. Commissioners agreed to tax abatements in late 2021.

00;00;41;13 - 00;01;04;19
Stephanie Wiechmann
Now, commissioners are changing the maximum allowed farm acreage that solar panels can use. Earlier this month, the county created task force suggested a cap of 3500 acres, or 2% of the county's agricultural land. In November, the Delaware County Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission increased that to 35,000 acres, or 20%. That recommendation was made by Henry, both a Plan Commission member and commissioner.

00;01;04;23 - 00;01;13;21
Stephanie Wiechmann
But on Monday, commissioners agreed to cut that back significantly again. Several numbers were suggested, but they landed on a 5000 acre max. Again, James King.

00;01;13;28 - 00;01;18;14
Shannon Henry
I just don't want a company coming in here thinking that they can build all over the place.

00;01;18;20 - 00;01;23;13
Stephanie Wiechmann
King and Henry voted yes to adopt the ordinance with that one change. Sherry Ragan voted no.

00;01;23;20 - 00;01;34;29
James King
To me, it is putting junk on good land. That it helps the community. But why do we have to be the ones to. Because we don't know what's going to happen in ten, 20 years.

00;01;34;29 - 00;01;52;18
Stephanie Wiechmann
If the change goes back to the plan commission for consideration. If it isn't voted on in 45 days, the change is automatically adopted. The Commission's next meeting is exactly 45 days from Monday. County officials are hoping to organize a special meeting sooner to vote on the change In Muncie. Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR news.