In its entirety, Christian County’s Attorney Lincoln Foster spent more than 20 minutes Tuesday morning — providing the second reading of all 14 pages for the fiscal court’s new, and improved, solar ordinance.
Unanimously approved by squires, the lengthy document does come with a few consistent and remaining highlights, and still maintains strong jurisdiction regarding the possible arrival of large electric farms to the community:
— A 2,000-foot variance remains for all non-participating property lines.
— A fence of at least eight feet in height, with staggered, filling vegetation must create 90% opacity.
— A license, with fees and project exhibits, must be approved by the planning commission.
— A decommissioning plan must make clear the site cleanup and removal plans following the end-of-life for large solar energy systems.
And much, much more.
Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam said this drafted legislature brings leadership’s intentions more into focus, and there were many hands to thank in the effort.
This ordinance, or course, revisits previous efforts enacted by the fiscal court in 2022, and finds itself more in line with state appropriations under House Bill 4 — which passed in March, was vetoed by Gov. Andy Beshear, overridden by the Kentucky General Assembly and brought into law in June.
Beshear argued that HB4, as written, “fails to protect the rights of landowners or Kentucky’s land and water,” and that it removes local input from the regulation process regarding cleanup, bond issuance and other concerns.
In no uncertain terms, HB4 asks for changes to KRS 278 — and seeks for electric-generating companies to put forth a comprehensive decommissioning plan to what will become “ad hoc” members of the Kentucky State Board on Electric Generation and Transmission siting.
Over the last year, Christian County has become a crucible for large solar energy system installation discussion — following the Dogwood LLC announcement and ensuing public outcry both in support and against a major farm development from Mitsubishi’s Oriden outfit.
In other court news:
— Melissa Goff, of the Christian County Regional Animal Shelter, said more than $18,000 was taken in during the month of October, and that adoptions were as busy as ever.
More than $3,600 came from designated donations.