Solar Energy Systems on Agenda for Upcoming Dearborn Co. Plan Commission Meeting

To accommodate a large crowd, the meeting will be held at South Dearborn High School.

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(Dearborn County, Ind.) – Commercial solar energy systems will be a topic at an upcoming Dearborn County Plan Commission meeting.

To accommodate a large crowd of local residents, the meeting will take place at the South Dearborn High School Auditorium on Monday, February 23, starting at 6:00 p.m.

According to the Dearborn Plan Commission, the agenda includes a moratorium on applications for the processing of applications for commercial solar under Article 19 of the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance, requesting more stringent requirements for commercial solar including battery storage facilities.

In December, an online petition was launched by local residents in opposition of the development and installation of commercial-scale solar energy systems within Dearborn County.

To date, over 1,700 have signed the petition.

The group of residents, landowners and stakeholders are concerned about the permanent or long-term loss of productive agricultural land, adverse impacts to rural character and scenic landscapes, potential reduction in neighboring property values, environmental and drainage issues, increased strain on roads and emergency services, and limited long-term economic benefit to Dearborn County residents.

The Planning and Zoning Office says any application for a solar energy system first requires a pre-application meeting, then the applicant must apply for a Conditional Use request before the Board of Zoning Appeals, which includes a public hearing. The Planning and Zoning had not received any application for any type of solar farm in Dearborn County.

While a formal application has yet to be submitted, Linea Energy is pursuing over 1,000 acres to develop into solar and battery storage.