Putnam Commissioners oppose state control of solar, wind projects
In an effort to keep planning and zoning decisions in local hands, the Putnam County Commissioners approved a resolution Monday opposing a state bill that would put decisions related to wind and solar power at the state level.
Indiana House Bill 1381, co-sponsored by Reps. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso), Sharon Negele (R-Attica) and Justin Moed (D-Indianapolis), would set standards for regulations of wind and solar infrastructure, including setback requirements, height restrictions and sound level standards.
However, these are decisions that are normally the responsibility of county planning and zoning officials, regardless of the industry in question.
Under the legislation, though, local authorities could not set any standards more restrictive than state standards.
The bill has met with opposition from the Indiana Association of Counties, which has encouraged county commissioners to adopt resolutions in opposition.
That’s exactly what the Putnam Commissioners did Monday, unanimously passing Resolution 2021-2-15-5. Commissioners Rick Woodall and David Berry voted in favor, while Tom Helmer was absent.
The resolution notes that, if enacted, HB 1381 “would disenfranchise the citizens of the ability to determine the conditions under which wind and solar energy projects would be allowed in their county.”
The resolution goes on to note, “communities would be compelled to allow wind and solar projects under conditions dictated by others living outside the community.”
Despite objections in Putnam and other counties, the bill passed the Indiana House of Representatives on Thursday by a 58-38 margin, though Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) was among those opposed.
The bill now passes to the State Senate, where it is co-sponsored by Sens. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) and Eric Koch (R-Bedford).
State control vs. home rule has been a hot issue for the Indiana General Assembly in 2021. State legislators have been taking on traditionally local issues such as landlord-tenant relationships, public transit and even things as mundane as the changing of names of cities and towns.
However, many of these issues have been framed as the Republican supermajority at the Statehouse trying to override decisions made by Democrat leaders in a number of Indiana cities.
The zoning issue, however, doesn’t break down into a neat, partisan divide.
For example, Baird was certainly not alone in the GOP caucus in voting against HB 1381. In fact, a slim 35-33 majority of Republicans voted for the measure, while it was supported by a wide 23-5 margin among Democrats.
Additionally, such a “power grab,” as many opponents are calling HB 1381, would not take power out of the hands of Democratic county officials, as those almost don’t exist in Indiana.
According to the Indiana Association of County Commissioners, Republicans control 253 of the 276 commissioner seats across Indiana’s 92 counties, including all three in Putnam County.
Instead, it simply seems to be a question of who controls land use as it relates to wind and solar energy, and could set a precedent that makes Putnam County officials uncomfortable.
“The Board of Commissioners desires to express its opposition to House Bill 1381,” the resolution reads, “and express its support for the rights of individuals and families living in a community to direct their own future through land use decisions.”
While so far there has been no major push for widespread wind or solar projects in Putnam County, local officials have addressed the potential issue of wind farms. In 2019, the Putnam County Plan Commission and Putnam County Commissioners voted to allow wind energy conversion systems as a special exception to all zones in Putnam County.
While this addition gives applicants a path to potentially installing windmills, it also gives the Board of Zoning Appeals the power to set the terms of how they are installed.
Any citizens wishing to express their views for or against the measure may do so by contacting their local senator, either District 24 Sen. John Crane at 800-382-9467 or s24@iga.in.gov or District 37 Sen. Rodric Bray at 800-382-9467 or senator.bray@iga.in.gov.