While more limited solar projects have often been welcomed with open arms in Lexington, the new proposed solar farms – totaling over a 1,000 acres – in eastern Fayette County have raised a number of concerns from neighbors, land-use advocates, and the city itself.
Is that the policy precedent that we want to set?Brittany Roethemeier, Fayette Alliance
Monday night, a number of residents sounded off in remarks that ranged from cautious to caustic. Speakers wanted to know if the land has already been purchased (not quite, both developers have options to buy), how much power would be generated for Fayette County, whether there are safety concerns with the materials used in the panels, and why the solar builders chose the locations off Winchester Road.
RIGHT NOW: The 12th District office is hosting a Solar Farm Info Session at Macedonia Christian Church. Two solar farms have been proposed around the Haley Road area off Winchester Road. pic.twitter.com/6XCgzHUYhg
— WUKY (@wuky) July 8, 2024
Brittany Roethemeier with Fayette Alliance says the solar facilities would sit atop large amounts of prime, irreplaceable farm soil. She also worries that the zoning change requested by the developers breaks with the city’s strong commitment to maintaining its celebrated rural perimeter and would pave the way for more encroachment in the future.
"While this may be one or two developments, I think we have to have a real hard look at what comes next. What's the next development that comes down the pike or that's proposed that if we open the door to policy changes like this?" she asked. "And is that the policy precedent that we want to set?"
Meanwhile, Blake Spurgeon with Silicon Ranch, which is seeking the zone change, says the goal of events like the meeting Monday night is to engage those who do have worries.
"One of the reasons we tried to get out really early on our application... was to have these types of conversations. And it makes sense. This is a new type of land use in Fayette County and so it's natural that people have a lot of questions," he says.
The two builders, Silicon Ranch and East Kentucky Power Cooperative, each had representatives on hand. Both sought to assure listeners that the facilities would be safe, beneficial for Kentucky, and able to be transitioned back to farmland were the solar farms to be decommissioned down the line.
Lexington has already stepped in to intervene in the application process, with the mayor expressing concerns about both the use of farmland and how much power would be generated for Fayette County.
The earliest the zoning text amendment could come before the city’s planning commission is Thursday, July 25th.
