Putnam County Council candidates discuss solar farms

While the issue of a solar farm coming to Putnam County appears dead right now, that didn't stop four of the five candidates seeking a bid for the County Council At-Large seats to discuss the matter Thursday night during a candidates forum at DePauw University.

Republican candidates Amanda Brown, Chad Colvin, Kerry Williams and incumbent Stephanie Campbell took part in the event. Candidate Daryn Clifford had to miss due to a prior engagement. 

The discussion comes on the heels of the Putnam County Commissioners denying a rezoning request that would have helped bring a solar farm to 1,200 acres of farmland in Russell Township. That decision came after county council members voted in favor of granting a 10 year tax abatement for the proposed Cold Spring Solar Farm. 

The question that sparked the debate centered around the use of tax dollars for attracting renewable energy industries. 

Colvin said there were many solar companies that would not have needed an abatement.

"If we don't have to give a tax abatement, I don't know why we would, especially if they aren't going to employ people from our county. You have to take every situation and evaluate it on its own merits," said Colvin, adding he would have been opposed to giving one for the Cold Spring Solar Farm. 

Brown said the solar issue has become a hot topic that if people are not discussing, they are itching for it to be discussed. 

"I am Putnam County and putting Putnam County first, what is it really doing," Brown said, sharing a story of how a coal mining company ruined the town where her husband is from before leaving after its decade old abatement finished. "If they are going to use our resources and not give us anything in return, not employ our citizens, then what are they doing for Putnam County. I am not for the tax abatement idea."

Campbell, who was part of the county council that voted for the abatement, said while a hot topic, she, personally, is not in favor or against of the matter. 

"If they can do it without them, that's great. If they can't, then the county can benefit. That money can come in and go towards roads, bridges. There can be a benefit," Campbell said. 

Williams called the use of abatements a "slippery slope." 

In his rebuttal time, Colvin mentioned the county was dealing with a company who never completed a solar farm.

"They came into Russell Township and lied to the farmers, saying they had people signed up who were not signed up. They also told us they were an employee owned company and they are not. They are owned by the California Teachers Union, the country of Dubai and a Swedish investment firm and all those people are over hundreds of billions of dollars and we are supposed to give them a tax abatement," Colvin said. 

Brown said there will always be something coming out that will spark debates and discussion and it is important to plan ahead and be ready for when they come. 

Later in the forum, the candidates were asked what recent county council decision would they change, and the discussion came back to the abatement for the proposed solar farm. 

Colvin said he would have been against the tax abatement. 

"I would have opposed that," he said. 

Campbell noted she is sure mistakes have been made during her time on council.

Williams said there is nothing he could say council did wrong, as he was not there for discussions or to offer suggestions. That was a point that was echoed by Brown. 

Brown said it is hard for her to say what she would change because she was not a member of discussions and that it would be tough to tell others they aren't doing their job correctly without knowing what the information is. 

That prompted a response from Colvin, who said did not mean to tell anyone they were doing their job wrong.