The Starke County Planning Commission held a meeting on March 11th, during which a motion was made in regards to solar and data center projects within the county.

The motion, which passed, proposed that a formal ordinance be drafted that would prohibit new utility-scale or commercial-scale energy infrastructure within the unincorporated areas of Starke County.

Planning Commission member Gwen Rentz made a proposal statement and the motion.

The Starke County Planning Commission released Rentz’s proposal statement and motion yesterday, and it reads as follows:

“I want to be clear that this proposal is not about opposing business or development. Starke County already has several commercial solar projects that were approved through the proper processes. However, the responsibility of local government is to evaluate long-term land-use impacts and determine what level of certain types of development is appropriate for our community.

Based on the feedback I have received from residents across the county, most feel that the amount of utility-scale energy infrastructure we currently have is enough. While a smaller number of taxpayers supported solar and battery storage projects and those developments moved forward, many others expressed significant concerns.

It is important that we listen to the broader community and set a clear policy direction moving forward. At some point, local government has to recognize when the community is saying enough is enough, and I believe we have reached that point.

After considering public input, land-use impacts, infrastructure considerations, and the long-term planning interests of Starke County, I believe it is appropriate for the county to move forward with establishing clear policy direction on this issue.

With that said, I would like to make a motion to direct staff and legal counsel to begin the formal drafting of an ordinance that would establish regulations prohibiting the siting, development, construction, placement, or operation of new utility-scale or commercial-scale energy infrastructure within the unincorporated areas of Starke County, for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Starke County and preserving prime agricultural land, rural character, and existing infrastructure, including but not limited to industrial-scale solar energy systems, commercial or hyperscale data center facilities, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and carbon capture or carbon sequestration infrastructure.

Staff and the Planning Commission Attorney shall prepare the proposed ordinance language, which will be circulated to the Starke County Planning Commission and scheduled for public review by the Starke County Plan Commission, including a duly noticed public hearing, prior to any final consideration or vote by the Starke County Board of Commissioners, in accordance with all applicable statutory procedures, public notice requirements, and opportunities for public input. That is my motion.”

The motion was seconded by Plan Commission member Todd Leinbach and passed unanimously.

The next step will be for the Plan Commission Staff and Plan Commission Attorney to begin preparing the ordinance language.

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