An effort to better define and regulate corporate solar energy systems was approved at Wednesday during a meeting of the Montgomery County Plan Commission.
Upon the recommendation of County Attorney Dan Taylor, the commission asked Taylor to proceed with drawing up a plan that will enhance requirements for permitting large solar projects.
Taylor presented five options that he considered the best and most logical for consideration. During the presentation, Taylor described the strengths and weaknesses of each option.
After a long discussion, the commission unanimously voted to have Taylor draw up an overlay that would describe how a company can get permitted to build an industrial solar project.
The overlay will describe the path a large commercial solar project company must follow to be considered by the commission as a viable project. The project would first have to go through the process of re-zoning the property where the project is being planned through the Board of Zoning Appeals. If approved, the project would then go to the planning commission. If the planning commission approves the request for a permit, they will forward it to county commissioners. At the end of the day, it will be the commissioners who will approve or reject commercial solar projects.
Large commercial solar energy systems will be defined by the acreage it will consume and whether or not the electricity will be sold on the wholesale market. A large project presently under consideration in southern Montgomery County would be an example. The project has received numerous complaints from non-participating landowners, many of whom were in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting.
Commission member and county council member Mark Davidson reminded those in attendance that the county had to abide by state law concerning large solar energy projects.
“We must follow state law. We can only ban solar projects to preserve the land, or if there are public safety issues,” Davidson said.
When Davidson asked if the action to direct Taylor to draw up a draft would stop any active projects, Taylor said it would not.
“The new overlay will only apply to projects that do not have permits on the day of acceptance of the new change,” Taylor said.
Taylor estimates the planning commission will have a draft in November. If approved, the planning commission will pass along their recommendations to commissioners who could act on the measure in December.
