ROTE — The Lamar Township Board of Supervisors had a lengthy discussion at their monthly board meeting regarding a new solar ordinance #2024-01.

The township did not previously have an ordinance and was suggested by their attorney to draft one. Supervisors received instructions from ordinances in other townships on how to write theirs.

Supervisor Dan Chappell noted that they have spoken to residents in passing about their opinion of solar power.

There are two types of solar energy – main solar energy systems (PSES) and accessory solar energy systems (ASES).

“I took about five and combined them into one. Most of them are pretty standard. What’s going to be the problem with our ordinance is that we said you can do primary, ground-mounted solar systems and highway interchanges and light industry. No AG. However, you can put a main system on the roofs of any building. Some people are not happy about it… That seemed to be the general consensus,” Chappell said.

Chairman Wade Vonada said residents can still apply for a permit and a hearing to see if they can do it for the AG, but it will all be based on a variance.

“Come to a hearing and the public can speak,” Vonada said.

Tibben Zerby, civil engineer at Century Engineering, and Leo Cox, development manager at Sunshare Community Solar, attended the meeting to answer any solar questions supervisors or the public may have and help clarify the ordinance .

“One of the things (the City of Lamar) has going for (them) in terms of a natural limitation to solar development is how much land there is and the state of the grid here.” Cox said.

Zerby asked for clarification on the variance process because the terminology is not explicitly stated in the ordinance. The ordinance operates under the assumption that you can apply for anything you want, but you are not guaranteed acceptance.

The major concern residents and officials seem to have is preserving farmland and overwhelming the grid.

“I think we can evolve” Chappell said. “It just seems to be the general consensus of the residents I’ve talked to, I don’t think it’s very desirable. It’s okay to relax a little—there are plenty of places that do. When people talk about wanting to protect farmland, I think we’re doing them a good service.”

“Change is scary and that’s part of (it)” Cox said.

The ordinance was approved unanimously by the supervisors, but they stressed they would be willing to discuss changes with their attorney in the future.