MY VIEWS ON LARGE-SCALE SOLAR & WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS
As a lifetime Boone County resident who grew up on a farm, please know I personally do not support using our fertile farmland for large scale solar and wind projects.
Personal feelings aside, I don’t believe these two energy resources represent financially feasible answers to a long-term energy demand – especially when the current government subsidy structure expires and renders them non-sustainable.
I continue to hear from residents who are very opposed to these types of energy developments in Boone County – especially solar projects. I have listened, I understand their viewpoints, and I respect these opinions.
As an elected official I have also listened to those who do support large scale solar projects. We are not governed by those who yell the loudest and must respect the opinions of every landowner then work together as neighbors to reach the best solution for all.
BOONE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IMPOSE A MORATORIUM.
Commissioners imposed a moratorium on wind and solar parks while authorities revamp the county’s master development plan. The current comprehensive zoning and planning master plan is 15 to 20 years old and did not anticipate rapid, largescale growth such as the LEAP Lebanon Research and Innovation district under development on as many as 10,000 acres in the county’s northwest quadrant. The plan also didn’t consider solar and wind energy.
I was correctly quoted saying, “I don’t believe a moratorium is our best path, but I voted for the moratorium because the public has stated this is the route we should take. I do think that operating within our comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances is a much better, more permanent solution and allows us better control of what we’re looking for.
A comprehensive plan also allows us to consider those individuals who wish to be a part of a solar project. The moratorium, in contrast, limits discussion until the update is complete.”
We will continue to ask the solar energy companies for research data that supports when the leases are completed the ground can be used again for farming purposes. Will there be long term impact on the ground covered? These studies need to be completed and made available to the public.
While it is true that these projects have significant assessed value, it is also true that the projects spread that assessed value over a much larger footprint than other economic development opportunities.
Boone County does not have a lack of interest from developers like some other areas do. We have significant opportunity for economic development without having this much land committed.
Thank you for your time learning the whole story and where I stand on solar/wind energy farms in Boone County. You are welcome to contact me via my email with any questions or comments about this or any other issues you’d like to discuss.