Marshall County Plan Commission unanimously approves addition of "Agrivoltaics" to Solar Ordinance

The Marshall County Plan Commission met Thursday evening, May 28th, with a single agenda item: a proposed amendment to the county's solar ordinance to add a definition for a concept gaining traction in the solar energy industry — agrivoltaics.

Agrivoltaics refers to the simultaneous co-location of agricultural production and solar energy generation on the same piece of land. The practice eliminates the traditional "food vs. energy" debate by pairing working farms with solar arrays, maximizing the productivity of the land. It is particularly beneficial in hot climates where irrigation is needed, as solar panels can provide shade to animals or shorter-grown crops beneath them.

County Plan Director Nick Witwer said the term was brought to the attention of the ordinance subcommittee by County Council member and Plan Commission President Deb Johnson, who noted the term had not been included in the county's existing solar ordinance. Johnson said the Technical Review Committee (TRC) gave a favorable recommendation to add the definition.

Johnson emphasized that while the county continues to work on a broader new solar ordinance, adopting this amendment in the interim helps protect the county from large-scale solar projects until the new ordinance is finalized. The Plan Commission and Commissioners had previously approved an amendment limiting solar projects to five panel-acres on a single piece of property.

The meeting also prompted questions from County Surveyor Craig Cultice, who asked Purdue Extension representative and Plan Commission member Breezy Slonaker how far sheep would graze vegetation under solar panels — raising concerns that overgrazing could increase surface water runoff. Slonaker also referenced a 2023-24 soil analysis that showed elevated zinc levels, though she clarified there has been no evidence of elevated zinc in the meat of grazing animals.

Following a public hearing that drew no public comment, the Plan Commission voted unanimously to approve the amendment, with all nine members present in favor.