This is a Reply to an invitation for me to speak at a town or county board meeting about Commercial Solar Projects.
But hopefully it will also help others realize "SOME" of the questions they need answers to, before addressing a town board meeting.
Thank you for reaching out to me and sharing your invitation for me to come speak to your local board.
Unfortunately, due to my advanced age, I am unable to drive after dark. In addition to that, when I start explaining all the negative aspects of commercial solar on farmland, close to residential or water, I can easily spend at least an hour or two without running out of facts.
Combine that with the fact that “most” boards will only allow a person 5 minutes to speak, it really would not be worth the drive to your area for such a short comment.
SO……………. The alternative is for me to provide you with enough “specific” information in writing, that can be printed out and handed to your board members AND parts of it can be read verbally by a local spokesperson.
In order for me to supply you with helpful information, I would like to know more about what type of info you need.
* Have any solar or wind projects been approved yet?
*Are you dealing with a county board or township board?
*Does your county or town already have a solar or wind ordinance in place?
*Does your county or town have a solar or wind moratorium in place?
*Do you have a volunteer fire department? If so, speak with your local fire chief and find out what their policy will be, in the event of a fire inside the fence of a commercial solar project.
*Do you have a river close by and if so, is it fed by any local creeks that will be close to the solar project?
* Do you have any Federally or State protected wildlife in the area close to the proposed project?
*Has anyone talked to your board about the size of road bonds that would be required?
*Has anyone researched the requirements relating to the Rule 5, Indiana water rules and regulations?
*Will there be any wells or ponds close to the proposed solar project?
*This one is vitally important. Does anyone have MAPS of ALL the Drainage TILES located on EACH parcel of the proposed solar project? Keep in mind if this project is approved, they WILL destroy plenty of century old drainage tiles, thus causing the underground water to change, such as turning ponds into mud or going dry, wells can also go dry and if residential homes are close, they could have basements flooding for the first time in 100 years.
Also, be advised that in the event of a fire that melts the framework of the solar panels, there WILL be toxic cancer causing chemicals going into the smoke plume, so any sick or elderly needs to be evacuated.
On top of all that, be prepared to pay much higher electric rates. I can even send you a list of electricity price increases for Indiana and requested solar taxes added to electricity bills.
Also, expect to pay for new high tension electric lines, and watch for substations placed on farmland.
Look online for videos containing the sound of them driving posts into the ground for 8 hours per day, for weeks and months at a time. So, noise levels should be included in any solar ordinance.
Encourage someone from your local area to be prepared to VIDEO RECORD all local board meetings until the solar projects are resolved and built or decide to leave your county.
Don’t be surprised if the solar developers sue your town or county if they don’t get everything they want.
Don’t be surprised if the solar developers bribe elected or appointed officials. They may not call it a bribe, but they WILL promise all different amounts of money to local citizens and to town and county boards/committees to keep them quiet.
Also, let the farmers know that it will take 500 to 1000 years for the nutrients to be replaced in the top 1 inch of their prime farmland, after the solar developers "scrape" the top soil off for their construction.
There is much more I could tell you, but I have to get ready to attend a local meeting, so that I can video record it. We are attempting to protect a board member that was attacked on social media and falsely accused of certain things, in an attempt to have that person removed from a board for nor voting FOR a solar project.
These folks play dirty and it takes good experienced warriors to go head to head with them.
For additional information, you can check out another one of my websites at https://nosolarwind.com
Also, if you are on Facebook you can check out one of our groups at https://www.facebook.com/groups/stopsolarfarms