NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Casey Swarts came to the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday to talk to them about the Monday planning meeting where the county planning commission sent them a recommendation not to ban solar in the zoned areas of the county.
"As a leader of the opposition to the ban, I was surprised that leading up to the hearing, when I spoke with groups or individuals about the subject almost universally, the reaction was that people had no idea a ban was in the works," Swartz said. "When I informed them of what was happening, the reply was usually why on earth would anybody ban solar energy? In national surveys, over 60% of the population in general support solar energy and our younger people supported at rates approaching 75%. However, most residents are unaware of the solar regulation process playing out in Reno County. My goal has been to make them aware. Next, comments made by some county commissioners in the past have focused on how the majority of county residents wanted commercial solar banned in Reno County. I presented a petition to the planning commission hearing this last Monday night with signatures from 93 Reno County residents, opposing a ban on commercial solar in the zoned area of Reno County. Also, residents provided written and verbal testimony to our planning commission, opposing a ban on commercial solar in the zoned area of Reno County."
Swarts does believe solar needs to be regulated, and even has a section on regulations at https://www.factualsolar.com/regulation to talk about it.
"I've spoken several times to the leader of the opposition to commercial solar farms in our county. I do not think we are all that far apart on our views. We both want what's best for the county and to protect the land. I think there's room for compromise and common sense mitigation steps in our regulations, and I think our planning commission is tuned into this and ready to provide leadership. As a side note, I highly encourage our planners to adopt a strong preference for developers who commit to low impact solar farm design principles."
Swarts understands that the final decision lies with the Board of County Commissioners as the elected governing body.
"I ask that you please do not override your planning commission with a super majority vote and indiscriminately ban commercial solar in the zoned areas of Reno County," Swarts said. "I ask that you trust your planning commission to do their jobs. Please let them develop responsible, effective and fair commercial solar farm regulations that will protect and benefit every resident."
Those regulations still need to be written through the planning commission process, assuming the County Commission does not override the recommendation of the planning board.
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