Putnam County Plan Commission votes down solar farm rezone request

A thunderous applause and cries of "thank you" brought to an end a marathon five hour Putnam County Plan Commission meeting Thursday night.

Hundreds of residents, many of whom wearing either red or shirts that demanded an end to solar farms and brought signs against solar farms, turned out to the Putnam County Fairgrounds to voice their opposition to a proposed 300 megawatt 4Leaf Solar Project located between Cloverdale and Jefferson townships in the southern portion of Putnam County.

After hearing testimony from both those for and against, as well as persuasive accounts from EnergyRe Senior Vice President Paul Cummings and Putnam County attorney Eddie Felling, the Plan Commission voted 5-0 against recommending the rezone request for the 2,000 acre project. The recommendation now heads to the Putnam County Commissioners, who have the final say. 

Lisa Zeiner, Plan and Building Director, said she received 78 letters and a petition that featured 386 people against the measure and 25 supporters. 

Felling asked the Plan Commission not to allow Putnam County residents to become "guinea pigs" by EnergyRe and 4Leaf Solar Farm.

"Can those who are opposed please stand and raise your hand. They're also voters," Felling said. 

Felling said land owners and EnergyRe knew the project was coming for a year.

"They haven't completed any studies. There is no way the petitioners have proved the five categories they have to. Don't make these people guinea pigs for this experiment," Felling urged the Plan Commission. 

Cummings spent time making his case for the project, and attempted to drive home the fact EnergyRe would be investing $72 million over 30 years back into the Cloverdale community and schools. 

"This will be one of the largest investments in Putnam County," Cummings said. 

Prior to making his motion, Plan Commission member Andy Beck, who is also on the County Commissioners, rattled off several reasons why he felt the way he did.

"I, Andy Beck, will be voting no," Beck said. 

Beck cited his belief in productive farm land and that it must be protected at "all costs." In addition, only 1.5 percent of the land would be able to be tilled, as well as a belief that natural gas and coal are better options over solar. Beck also noted that per IDEM, there would be 11 million tons of waste from the solar panels. 

"When I ran, I stated I would not support solar," Beck told the audience, many of whom clapped. 

Beck's motion received a second from James McKee.

Plan Commission members James McKee, Beck, Zach Bowers, Kevin Scobee and Kate Skirvin all voted yes in favor of the motion. Board member Jenna Nees abstained, stating she had not had enough time to look through all the information. Board member Greg Williams was absent. 

Prior to the motion and vote, the Plan Commission heard from many citizens, most of whom cited various reasons why they were against the measure, including real estate "expert" Denise Spooner.

"Nobody wants to live near an industrial solar farm," Spooner said, urging the Plan Commission to vote no. 

Dale Grove echoed those sentiments, saying his father sold land to the Mann family with the belief it would be agriculture. The Mann family was the one contacted to sell land for the solar farm.

"The town water supply could be in danger. I urge you to deny the request and consider the precedent this could set," Grove said. 

Tony Heck told those in attendance representatives from EnergyRe "had no plans."

"We are being sold maybes. What isn't a maybe is one family stands to get rich. I am begging you to vote no and stand with the people of this county," Heck said.

Both Robert Mann and Christopher Mann told those in attendance his family had received interest from 14 different companies looking to bring solar and opted for EnergyRe because it would help "diversify" their farming and the land would improve in soil quality. 

"Our door was getting knocked down by solar companies," Christopher Mann said.