Putnam Commissioners oppose state control of solar, wind projects

Thursday, February 18, 2021
Courtesy photo

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.

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  • Excellent reporting. Maybe the best news reporting article in many moons!

    The issue of control is going to be interesting to watch. Decisions are very seldom a one off but provide precedent for behavior in other "like" situations.

    -- Posted by beg on Fri, Feb 19, 2021, at 8:30 AM
  • Beg, we recently sold a farm in another state. Driving back and forth to visit the relatives who purchased the farm, we were shocked at the number of windmills that have invaded the area we once called home. It doesn't really matter what I think about windmills, but they are definitely difficult for some folks who prefer horizons of beans and corn to get used to, and many consider them a visual blight. I hope that any future decision to place windmills locally include inputs of from local residents, but from the article, I'm not hopeful.

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Sun, Feb 21, 2021, at 6:52 PM
  • I think your last sentence has a lot of truth in it.

    -- Posted by beg on Mon, Feb 22, 2021, at 12:01 AM
  • Actually, as I have read closer, I would disagree with the premise it isn't a power grab. Maybe for the good in some cases but a power grab nonetheless

    1. State takes power from more local bodies

    2. Dems have no say if left to county based on stats shared. Their vote was very strong for state takeover. Simple- Democrats believe in more centralized power and the counties controlled by the Republicans.

    3. They have much more power if decisions made at state level

    So, a power play by the state house (Both parties) and gives Dems more say in the issue.

    This doesn't take away from my feelings that the article is good news reporting overall. Shares the facts, author offers opinion softly. Allows us to see the authors political leanings but doesn't deter from the article itself.

    -- Posted by beg on Mon, Feb 22, 2021, at 12:08 AM
  • *

    If "Democrats believe in more centralized power," that would come as news to the Indianapolis City County Council, who've been pushing back on the Republican supermajority's efforts at the state level to strip away local control of their own police department.

    -- Posted by Bunny1E on Mon, Feb 22, 2021, at 11:41 AM
  • *

    LOL - leave it to the silly rabbit to try to disprove 100 cases of "A" by one example of "not A" in a war of soundbite debate.

    It is true that as a general rule Democrats believe more in centralized power than Republicans. This is because there are more liberty-minded folks (those who prefer smaller government) in the Republican party than the Democrat party, which tends to attract those that prefer larger government.

    However, the silly rabbit is also correct that the Republican party has engaged in the same nonsense.

    (Yes, saying that the silly rabbit is right did hurt a little bit. LOL)

    Lincoln (Federal supremacy) = Republican. FDR (New Deal) = Democrat. Johnson (Great Society) = Democrat. Bush 43 (Patriot Act) = Republican. Obama (socialized medicine) = Democrat. Lugar(Unigov -Indianapolis & Marion County gov't merger) = Republican. Peterson (merger of IPD & MCSD) = Democrat.

    Its time people stopped looking at things from a political tribe perspective and tried seeing things from a constitutional lens. Neither party (R or D) has your ultimate interest in mind. They both want power...power that rightfully belongs to the citizen.

    When government is at the local level - whether it is city/town or county - it is more responsive to the people and better equipped to do what few things it is tasked with doing.

    When government is further from the voters (such as zoning powers in the hands of state politicians) - it becomes a breeding ground for corruption and increases the turning of a deaf ear to the constituency which will be most effected.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Mon, Feb 22, 2021, at 12:54 PM
  • DPR said, "When government is further from the voters (such as zoning powers in the hands of state politicians) - it becomes a breeding ground for corruption and increases the turning of a deaf ear to the constituency which will be most effected."

    Precisely! Could not have been said better.

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Mon, Feb 22, 2021, at 1:07 PM
  • Rabbit,

    Note I state Both parties. I add the Dem comments because it is in direct response to the author's statement.

    I can only surmise 3 things- I did a poor job of communicating for you to understand what I intended to share, you were sensitive to the comment as it specifically applies to leftist theology, or upset the Republicans are stealing part of the playbook for their gain.

    Since I can only guess on the other two and then that takes us off topic, I will just assume it my communication was poor.

    Enjoy your Monday and stay safe

    -- Posted by beg on Mon, Feb 22, 2021, at 6:03 PM
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