Delaware County Advances New Solar Zoning Rules for Farmland

By Andi Anderson

Delaware County’s plan commission has approved a new zoning ordinance regulating solar energy projects on county farmland, forwarding it to the county commissioners for a final vote. The move follows months of public debate, marking the second major rewrite of the ordinance in less than a year.

The first ordinance, adopted in late 2023 after a multi-year process, faced ongoing criticism from local farmers and residents opposed to large-scale solar installations on agricultural land. In response, officials initiated a fresh review, producing a significantly expanded document with several new provisions.

Plan commission president Chris Smith clarified that the vote was not about allowing or banning solar farms, but about setting the rules should such projects proceed. Executive director Kylene Swackhammer noted that the ordinance differs greatly from the 2023 version in both scope and length.

Key updates include restrictions on using “prime farmground” as identified by state and local surveys, the reinstatement of a property value guarantee for neighboring landowners, and new regulations for commercial battery energy storage systems.

The property value clause, removed in 2023 after concerns about enforceability, has been rewritten for inclusion.

The vote followed hours of public comment. Farmer Charles Lancaster spoke in favor of solar as a way to stabilize farm income, while farmer Ryan Richards expressed concerns about being surrounded by panels and unable to relocate his long-term farm investments.

The commission approved the ordinance 8-1, with third-generation farmer Jesse Landess casting the lone dissenting vote. If adopted by the county commissioners, the ordinance will replace the current version and lift the county’s moratorium on new solar projects.

While the moratorium was in place, Indiana lost $117 million in federal Solar for All grant funding intended for renewable energy expansion, underscoring the stakes of the county’s decision.

Photo Credit: istock-shansekala