Starke County residents call for moratorium on missing documents claims

Starke County, Ind. (WSBT) — Starke County is in a real conflict over solar energy, with some residents calling for a halt to solar projects in the county, saying key documentation required to obtain permits for new solar farms is missing.

In recent years, solar panels have begun popping up in Starke County and generating controversy.

Some support renewable energy, while others oppose it because it takes away agricultural land and is unsightly. But now a new aspect has emerged that is fueling the fire.

The discovery was made when a group of residents were investigating a new solar project in Starke County, Hoosier.

So I was just trying to get a better understanding of where we were and what the permitting process was for this project. I asked for all the other documents related to Next and Mammoth. After getting all of them, there was a lot of missing information in these findings,” said Roberta Lee, a concerned resident.

The group says items believed to be missing include some permits, maps and signatures.

They say one of the most troubling missing pieces was the Economic Development Agreement because it guarantees solar companies will pay the county.

“Without the EDA being the way we get paid in lieu of these tax breaks, these companies could just not make payments to Starke County. I’m not saying they would, but without that on the books, how could we enforce something that doesn’t have all the i’s and all the t’s crossed?” Lee said.

The solar farms are expected to generate significant tax revenue for the county, with more than 22,000 acres of land having been leased.

Concerned residents told WSBT 22 the issue is not with solar power, but that everything was done correctly to keep the county safe.

Our demand is that before we start to expand more solar as a county, we need to get all of our affairs in order before we add more to it. We need to be able to protect everyone,” Lee said.

WSBT 22 reached out to the county for clarification on the missing documents. The Starke County attorney provided a statement saying:

The County was made aware of several concerns by a local citizen at the July 1 County Commissioners meeting. The County takes a diligent approach to projects of this size and scale, and the health, safety, and well-being of our residents are always a top priority and are of paramount importance. The County Commissioners and the County Council welcome the public comments from concerned citizens over the past several months regarding the existence of commercial solar energy systems in Starke County. Many of the questions asked at the July 1 meeting had previously been asked and answered through various County departments, County officials, and our CSES partners. Regardless, the Commissioners do not agree with any statement that would suggest that none of the prerequisite documentation required for County permitting was submitted. The approval and permitting process for these CSES projects took many months and involved the assistance of various departments, licensed professionals, and County officials and employees. The Starke County Board is extremely proud of the efforts made to bring these solar energy projects to the permitting and operational stage. Any suggestion that due diligence was not exercised before the permit was issued is false.

During last night’s meeting of Lee County Commissioners, he threatened legal action if nothing was done within 30 days.

She insists she will be at the next commissioner’s meeting to request a progress report and a formal moratorium. That meeting is July 15 at 9:30 a.m.