March 10, 2017 at 1:39 a.m.
Officials to research solar rules
Jay County Plan Commission
Officials to research solar rules
Copyright 2017, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved.
No solar energy projects are on the horizon, but local officials want to be prepared in case any arise.
Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn on Thursday discussed working toward setting up local rules for the use of solar panels with Jay County Plan Commission.
Hemmelgarn noted that he and commission member Shane Houck have had previous discussions about setting up local ordinances for solar panels. He also noted a story in Wednesday’s edition of The Commercial Review about a $12 million solar farm that is going to be built in Anderson this year.
He said he’s done some preliminary research on ordinances regarding solar power but has not found much information as of yet.
“There really isn’t much out there,” said Hemmelgarn, adding that most of what he has seen is vague. “We’ve only found one thing in Indiana that is any kind of ordinance.”
Board members talked briefly about the use of some solar panels in Farmland, Bluffton, Greenfield, Indianapolis and Celina, Ohio, in addition to the planned 30,000 solar panels to be installed in Anderson.
Hemmelgarn noted that he has not been approached by anyone with interest in installing solar panels in Jay County.
“It’s still better to be proactive,” said Houck.
“The one thing I have learned in two years of doing this job is if you don’t have something drawn up, someone’s either going to cheat it or complain about whatever you do draw up,” agreed Hemmelgarn. “It’s probably something that will be eventually coming to this area. It doesn’t hurt anything to get at least a little bit started … I don’t think we’re in a big hurry for it … but it might be something we want to look in to.”
Hemmelgarn said he will continue to research the issue and report back to the plan commission.
In other business, the commission:
•Elected Mike Leonhard as its new president. He takes over for Jim Zimmerman, who is no longer on the board after deciding not to run for another term as county commissioner.
Also elected were Mike Rockwell as vice president and Matt Minnich as secretary.
•Welcomed new member Steve Ford, who replaces Paula Confer after her term expired. Tom Laux, who was not in attendance, will take over on the commission for Eric Pursifull.
•Retained Bill Hinkle as counsel, Pati McLaughlin as recording secretary and Larry Temple as a non-voting member.
All Rights Reserved.
No solar energy projects are on the horizon, but local officials want to be prepared in case any arise.
Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn on Thursday discussed working toward setting up local rules for the use of solar panels with Jay County Plan Commission.
Hemmelgarn noted that he and commission member Shane Houck have had previous discussions about setting up local ordinances for solar panels. He also noted a story in Wednesday’s edition of The Commercial Review about a $12 million solar farm that is going to be built in Anderson this year.
He said he’s done some preliminary research on ordinances regarding solar power but has not found much information as of yet.
“There really isn’t much out there,” said Hemmelgarn, adding that most of what he has seen is vague. “We’ve only found one thing in Indiana that is any kind of ordinance.”
Board members talked briefly about the use of some solar panels in Farmland, Bluffton, Greenfield, Indianapolis and Celina, Ohio, in addition to the planned 30,000 solar panels to be installed in Anderson.
Hemmelgarn noted that he has not been approached by anyone with interest in installing solar panels in Jay County.
“It’s still better to be proactive,” said Houck.
“The one thing I have learned in two years of doing this job is if you don’t have something drawn up, someone’s either going to cheat it or complain about whatever you do draw up,” agreed Hemmelgarn. “It’s probably something that will be eventually coming to this area. It doesn’t hurt anything to get at least a little bit started … I don’t think we’re in a big hurry for it … but it might be something we want to look in to.”
Hemmelgarn said he will continue to research the issue and report back to the plan commission.
In other business, the commission:
•Elected Mike Leonhard as its new president. He takes over for Jim Zimmerman, who is no longer on the board after deciding not to run for another term as county commissioner.
Also elected were Mike Rockwell as vice president and Matt Minnich as secretary.
•Welcomed new member Steve Ford, who replaces Paula Confer after her term expired. Tom Laux, who was not in attendance, will take over on the commission for Eric Pursifull.
•Retained Bill Hinkle as counsel, Pati McLaughlin as recording secretary and Larry Temple as a non-voting member.
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