The following data comes from a newspaper clipping. I do not know the name of the Newspaper, however it was written by Kathy Tretter.
It discusses a Grandview Board of Zoning Appeals meeting, in the town of Grandview, Indiana located in Spencer County, IN 47615, that took place on the previous Thursday evening in the Town Hall.
Justin Wolf, Project Development Manager with Orion Energy Group, was in attendance seeking approval to erect a 500 acre solar field north of Grandview, within the town’s two mile fringe zone over which the town has jurisdiction.
Following Wolf’s detailed presentation, and after reviewing the finding of facts and answering questions, the project was approved.
While the solar field includes 500 acres, approximately 166 acres will be covered with panels, the remainder will feature open spaces and planted with a pollinator-friendly seed mix, local grasses and trees that will server as a buffer.
According to Wolf, studies show the cost of solar (and wind, in which Orion is heavily invested) is basically half the price of coal”
He explained the benefits that SHOULD be reaped by going forward. The tax benefit for the county is expected to total around $8 million-with another million for the Town of Grandview. The project will also put an annual revenue of $163,000 in the South Spence School Corporation’s coffers.
Wolf noted Hammond Township homeowners, farmers and business taxpayers will see a 3.7% reduction in property taxes and everyone’s electricity will cost less.
The 25 families who are leasing land for the field will benefit in various ways over the 30 year life of the project, with an opportunity for the land to lay fallow but still generate $12 million in revenue.
Building the field will take from 200 to 300 construction workers. The preliminary site plan shows the field will be located 100 feet off county roads and is designed to be 250 feet from any homes within the 500 acres. The panels are relatively low to the ground (six to eight feet at a full tilt) and all electric cabling is buried.
When it’s up and running, the solar filed will generate up to 80 or 85 megawatts of power for the gird, the equivalent to power about 12,000 homes. At present, no end user has been secured.
Wolf went through the process since the project’s inception, saying leasing efforts began in 2016. While no agreement had been reached with Vectren, the utility giant did submit a request for power this year and the Spencer County Council unanimously approved a tax abatement for the project.
He also went through commonly asked questions and tried to head off any potential objections and tried to head off any potential objects. There are no toxic materials other than trace amounts of lead in the solder.
“There is more toxic material in a cell phone or TV,” he explained.
The panels are made to withstand extreme weather conditions, including two inch hail strikes. There should be little or no glare, although until the trees grow, there is a slight possibility at dawn and dusk.
The panels will be turned to alleviate this and since the distance to any roadway will be 100 feet, he felt concern was minimal.
However that was one of the concerns expressed by Frank White.
Donnie Mallory asked, “Is it too late? Is there any way to stop this?”
Shane White added, “This is changing the life of everyone in this room. We moved to the country, who wants to be surrounded by panels?”
Another audience member noted the commentators do not live in town limits or within the buffer zone. No objections were raised by residents.
As with any project needing Board of Zoning Appeals approval, finding of fact must be addressed.
Orion’s attorney, Mary Tolliday, went through those for the benefit of BZA members and the audience.
She spoke of the visibility issue already raised, then noted no additional traffic, odors of other inconveniences will impact adjacent property owners.
The project has been designed to minimize impact on wetlands or timbered areas.
Agricultural activities can continue during the life of the solar farm and there will be no negative impact on property values.
Wolf also presented decommissioning plans. At the end of the 30 year lease, the panels and generating units will be dismantled and removed and the land transitioned back for agriculture. The town of Grandview will be named as beneficiary of the Restoration Fund.
Several conditions were added to those already approved and the findings of face met all requirements needed to approve the project.
Jim Harris made the motion to proceed, seconded by Kevin Myers and the vote carried.
When built, Grandview’s will be the largest solar project in the state, at least for a time.
- Grandview Solar.jpg (392.99 KiB) Viewed 635 times