League Of Women Voters Of Indiana

Dear County Commissioners:

The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County recommends that we do not increase setbacks for solar development.

The proposed 500-foot setback from non-participating residences would create, if drawn as a square, a 23-acre zone around every non-participating house. This is 11 times the size of the zone created by the 150-foot recommendation in the Indiana University model solar ordinance, or 4 times the size of the 250-foot recommendation by the state. This could impose significant restrictions to neighbors’ property rights, and block large parcels of land to solar development.

There’s little to no benefit to increasing setbacks to a full 500 feet. Solar panels have no emissions, odor, or health risks, and the slight daytime hum from inverters is already inaudible at 150 feet. The only remaining consideration is visual aesthetics, which are addressed more effectively with less restriction on property owners through screening – with vegetation or other means – and reasonable height limits. These measures are also addressed in the IU model ordinance.

Excessive restrictions will not only impinge on property owners’ rights and economic opportunities, but on the economic opportunities of Montgomery County as a whole. An acre of solar panels can produce 350 MWh of energy per acre per year. At wholesale prices of $36/MWh, that’s $12,600 of revenue. This compares to corn at $1,418 per acre (195 bushels per acre, $7.27/bushel). What goes back to the property owner varies based on a number of factors, but it is estimated at $400-800 for solar versus $276 for corn.

And that’s not to say every acre of solar competes with agriculture, either. Solar can be sited on marginal or depleted land, or land otherwise unsuited for crops or other development. It can also be easily combined with grazing or pollinator habitat (or, with some design modifications, even crops themselves). We know that farmers are proud stewards of our land and work hard to maximize its productivity. They deserve to have the option to put their land to its best use, and in some cases that use will be capturing energy from sunlight – something already done with corn ethanol, but at 1/30th the efficiency of solar panels.

There are wider economic benefits as well. Because it is fuel-free, renewable energy helps keep power prices down as the costs of fuel such as coal and gas rise. Renewable attracts businesses – it’s directly cited by Tempur Sealy as one of the reasons they came to Montgomery County. To restrict solar development with setbacks that are far beyond expert recommendations and the standards adopted by other communities would be to do Montgomery County and our citizens a great disservice.

Best Regards, The Board of the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County.