WITT: More thoughts on solar farms

Published 2:09 am Wednesday, November 11, 2020

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There are some problems with the process of considering solar farms as it is currently set up.

These problems need to be addressed before the process continues, and it should be remembered by all involved that the potential impact on Clark County could be enormous.

First, it is alleged that three members of the Solar Ordinance Committee have already signed options for land lease should the ordinance be approved. This is clearly a conflict of interest, and a document titled the Solar Ordinance Collaboration Timeline states that, on Oct. 3, 2019, Swift Current Energy secured its option to purchase real estate in Clark County.

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If this allegation is true, these three members need to be replaced. Even if their replacements are those in favor of solar farms (and it should be conceded that fairness requires individuals with opposing viewpoints to be on the committee), they could at least be more impartial than those who stand to gain financially if the solar farm ordinance is approved.

The agenda presented before the first meeting of the committee (which occurred on Oct. 27) states, “We must understand our mission is to research information sufficient to draft text language that will be presented to the Planning Commission.” This suggests that the goal is not to evaluate the desirability of having a local solar ordinance but to create such an ordinance, a fore-gone conclusion. This is further suggested by the following: “…a final product will be developed for delivery to the Winchester/Clark County Planning Commission to consider.”

Both of these statements in the agenda seem to suggest an outcome and that should clearly not be the purpose of the committee.

The agenda also states that: “…the work of the advisory committee should be completed within no more than four meetings, each lasting no more than two hours…” The number of meetings and the amount of time devoted to each meeting should not be constrained in this manner if the true intent of the process is to properly evaluate options. There have been countless committees and sub-committees formed in this community; very few have had time limitations placed on them prior to beginning their work.

Also pertinent to this process is the fact that the current COVID pandemic prohibits the assembly of large numbers of people in confined locations and it has already become obvious that this issue has aroused the interest of a huge number of the citizens of Clark County. The first meeting drew over three hundred people and petitions against a solar farm ordinance have garnered far more signatures.

As long as it is not possible for a significant number of interested persons to converge in person – both those opposed and those in favor – the process can never be considered fair or reasonable.

Surely most would agree that participation via Zoom or Skype or some other form of virtual association is not in keeping with the true purpose of the hearings. Even if attendees were not allowed to participate in the discussions of the committee, those attending would at least be able to hear firsthand the opinions and ideas being presented.

Material that has been proposed for review includes two model ordinances, three county ordinances, three American Planners Association documents and a Center for Environmental Policy publication. Such a list of pertinent documents is too extensive to be properly examined within the confines of limited meetings and times.

It has been suggested that the Comprehensive Plan needs to be re-examined in light of the importance of this proposed ordinance and that should be done before any further committee meetings take place.

The prospect of solar farms in Clark County is too important, and likely to have overwhelming effects on this county, for the process to be rushed as it has already been. It’s time to step back and make the necessary changes to assure proper and adequate consideration of this issue. What’sthe rush?

Chuck Witt is a retired architect and a lifelong resident of Winchester. He can be reached at chuck740@bellsouth.net.