The question has been the subject of long-running debate as the city works to balance its commitment to greener energy with maintaining its signature rural perimeter. Silicon Ranch, which has sought to build larger solar operations in agricultural zones, opposed the new language.
"Solar development does not have to be a choice between energy or agriculture. It can be both.
Agrivoltaics has clear benefits to soil health, ecosystem improvement," Bob Cornyn with Silicon Ranch said at the Thursday Planning Commission meeting.
Brittany Roethemeier with the Fayette Alliance disagreed with that characterization and warned that allowing such development sets a dangerous precedent.
"We have to be really careful, as we always are in making these policies, if we permit something like this and violate our established city policies and allow an industrial type of use on our most sensitive and most finite resource that we have in this community," she said.
The city's Planning Commission voted unanimously against the revised language.
In a statement, Silicon Ranch said it is disappointed with the outcome but that it will continue to be part of the discussion — adding the company is "confident there is a thoughtful path forward that reflects Fayette County's own vision."