Around the State: County Nixes Tighter Rules on Solar Farms
One North Carolina county has rejected tighter rules it feared would discourage future solar growth that benefits the county’s economy.
Brunswick County Commissioners last week declined to approve proposed new planning rules on solar farms. The commissioners specifically expressed concern about limiting the size of solar farms to 50 acres, and requiring facility decommissioning plans to be updated every three years. Other requirements, such as setbacks from roads, streams, and wetlands, met with approval. The proposed new rules were sent back to the county Planning Board for further work.
Brunswick is a politically conservative county with experience in approving new solar farm facilities. It’s noteworthy that local leaders there continue to recognize the value of these facilities, and are working to craft reasonable standards which protect the environment and the public without discouraging well-designed solar development.
