Noble County debates solar farm acreage cap
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Noble County commissioners are debating a proposal to cap solar farm acreage in the county to 4,700 acres. Currently, the county allows solar panels to be installed at a home or business without limitations, and there is not an acreage restriction for solar farms.
According to reporting from our partners at WPTA-TV, the debate centers on farmers and other landowners who want to lease their land for commercial use.
At a county council meeting earlier this week, the station reports residents who live near the proposed solar farms voiced concerns related to views and noise, as well as the potential for a decrease in property value. Others say the county shouldn’t be regulating how they use their land.
Current plans call for the moratorium on commercial solar farms to potentially be lifted by the end of the year. If that occurs, each development would be required to submit an application to be reviewed by the commission and county zoning officials.
Additional meetings are planned for the proposal to lift the moratorium and implement a restriction on solar farm acreage. The county is hosting an open discussion on August 24 at the Noble County Planning Commission in Albion.