Board still unsure of rules for solar farms
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 15, 2014 1:47 PM
Wayne County is the sixth-leading county in the state when it comes to investments in solar energy projects. Yet the county continues to struggle with crafting rules regulating the facilities even as plans continue for more of them to be built.
Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday will hold a second workshop in as many weeks on proposed rules for solar farms -- a discussion that has been ongoing since the first of the year.
The major sticking point for some commissioners is what they see as rules that are too restrictive and that they say would curtail development.
Tuesday's meeting will get under way with an 8 a.m. agenda briefing followed by the official meeting at 9 a.m. Both will be held in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the county courthouse annex.
"There are three 5 MW (megawatt) solar projects (in the works) that can each power about 750 homes and occupy about 40 acres," said Betsy McCorkle, director of government affairs for the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association. "Each one of these projects will provide clean reliable energy for 30 years or longer without the need of new government services or added noise, odor, traffic, or pollution.
"As of the end of 2013, there has been $59,476,125 invested (in Wayne County) in solar (photovoltaic) projects. Robeson County is No. 1 with over $150 million."
It is important for any zoning ordinance to strike a balance between the property owner's rights, and uses that might have an adverse impact on other property owners, said John Morrison, Strata Solar vice president for public affairs and asset management.
"Fortunately solar is a very benign technology which does not create excessive traffic, or noise, emissions, odors, effluents and other contamination," he said. "A fair and reasonable ordinance is one which treats solar in the same manner as other more traditional and accepted uses with similar impacts on the surroundings."
The solar industry does not seek special treatment, nor does it wish to be singled out for requirements above traditional standards for a particular community, he said.
"Property tax is paid on both the land and the plant and equipment installed on a solar project," Morrison said. "Tax rates vary by jurisdiction, but a typical 5 MW, 40-acre solar project pays approximately $30,000 a year in taxes when it starts operation. This represents two to eight times the tax revenue from previous use.
"It is important to note that solar projects do not require new roads, sewers or schools, so the increased tax revenue comes with no additional costs to the county."
The proposal ordinance before commissioners Tuesday addresses concerns raised at the last workshop by Commissioners Joe Daughtery and Ray Mayo, including the elimination of the minimum lot size while reducing the setback distances.
Public comments will be received at 10 a.m. when people will have four minutes to speak on their topic of choice.