indiana Prairie Farmer Logo

A Shelby County, Ind., group questions the value of a new industrial solar venture.

August 31, 2020

3 Min Read
Stop Industrial Solar Panel Plants sign
RURAL CONCERNS: Rural residents in southwestern Shelby County, Ind., hope these signs will focus attention on a potential project. Kyle Barlow

The push for renewable energy can have unintended consequences. For example, when an industrial solar project is proposed, more is at stake than just replacing fossil fuels. If it requires several hundred acres of solar panels, it means land will no longer be farmed. The unintended consequence is loss of prime farmland.

Some smaller solar installations are already in operation. Recently, however, proposals that would cover hundreds of acres of farmland with solar panels have surfaced. A proposed solar complex in Madison County, Ind., failed to materialize in 2019 when it didn’t receive county zoning approval. However, a solar industrial project was approved for northwestern Shelby County in Indiana. To our knowledge, construction hasn’t yet started on that project.

Recently, signs appeared in southwestern Shelby County opposing a solar project that some believe may be headed for that area. Apparently, landowners who would lease the land to an energy company have been contacted.

Kyle Barlow farms near Bengal in Shelby County, near where the project would supposedly be located. “I haven’t been approached and my land doesn’t join the proposed site, but I feel an obligation to assist my neighbors in expressing their concerns about this project,” Barlow says. “We have a committee with smart people gathering information, and we have held informational meetings with good attendance. We have about 700 signs out to make people aware of the proposed project.”

Barlow says besides the loss of prime farmland, people are concerned about potential environmental concerns. The area is home to an aquifer that supplies water for a company that sends drinking water to thousands of customers.

At this time, it appears no one has officially proposed an industrial solar project to county officials, but residents still have questions and concerns.

Always ask questions

Whenever such a project is proposed, it’s fair to ask questions. The Shelby County group says they still have more questions than answers. Here are key questions they’re asking:

1. Would the project benefit anyone other than the people paid for leasing the land? There is some indication that if the land is still classified as farmland, it would be taxed as farmland, and schools and other agencies wouldn’t reap benefits from property taxes.

2. What happens after the lease ends or if the company goes out of business? Who would dispose of hundreds of acres of solar panels, and who would withstand the cost?

3. Are there environmental dangers associated with solar panels? Most solar panels contain cadmium. According to the website Energy Matters, this heavy metal is safe if it’s contained. If panels are damaged and it leaks, there could be risks. This concern obviously needs more investigation.

4. Can a company use eminent domain to obtain land for a solar project? Eminent domain is reserved for public utilities and government use, not private companies. So, if it’s truly a private project, eminent domain shouldn’t apply.

5. Will energy generated be used locally? In this case, Barlow has determined that the local utility would not purchase electricity from the project.

“We’re not against solar energy,” Barlow says. “We’re just concerned about our community and the future.”

Those are legitimate concerns. The best advice if you’re in an area that could be affected by any type of proposed project is to continue to ask questions and remain involved. The time to ask questions and get factual answers is before action is taken, not after.

Comments? Email [email protected].

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like