Daviess County Fiscal Court Imposes New Restrictions on Utility-Scale Solar Projects
The Daviess County Fiscal Court in Owensboro, Kentucky, has approved two ordinances that introduce new limitations on utility-scale solar projects. These ordinances, which passed on Thursday, cap the acreage for solar developments, mandate specific setbacks from residential areas and other sensitive sites, and require financial guarantees for cleanup and road repairs. The zoning text amendment, affecting Articles 8 and 14 of the Owensboro Metropolitan Zoning Ordinance, passed 3-1, with Commissioner Chris Castlen voting against it. A companion county ordinance, establishing a new chapter under business regulations for renewable energy and energy storage facilities, passed unanimously. Both ordinances are effective upon publication. Under the new zoning rules, a single solar project's development area cannot exceed 300 acres, excluding buffer zones. The countywide limit for farmland used for these facilities is set at 1,200 acres, and projects must be at least three miles apart. Equipment must maintain a 1,0...