By HOLLY GASKILL
Commercial solar companies will no longer be able to receive tax abatement benefits in Wells County.
The Wells County Council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance instating this moratorium on Tuesday. A second reading was also waived, and the ordinance went into effect immediately.
In contrast to previous conversations about the ordinance and solar energy, there was no discussion from the council or public comment. A copy of the ordinance was later provided to The News-Banner.
The ordinance states that the council has found a “lack of public support for commercial solar facilities themselves and the suggestion of offering tax incentives for commercial solar facilities even less popular,” particularly “with the most recent discussions with and within the Wells County community”.
Furthermore, the document states that the council “believes that all tax incentives for commercial solar development in rural areas of the County should be prohibited, subject to any comprehensive plan and/or zoning ordinance.”
The ordinance cannot affect the tax abatement and economic development agreements approved by the council with Paddlefish Solar in December 2022. Should Paddlefish receive the necessary zoning in Wells County, they would receive a 10-year total abatement and issue economic development payments of at least $8.5 million.
Paddlefish had applied for a “zoning layer” on 49 parcels in southern Wells County and received a unanimous “do not pass” recommendation from the Area Plan Commission in March. Following immense public opposition, Paddlefish announced they would “regroup” before further pursuing the zoning.
Unless their application includes significant changes, Paddlefish cannot re-apply until after March 8, 2025.
A ban on tax abatements for utility-scale solar was first discussed publicly at the council’s June 4 meeting, hoping to deter future companies from pursuing development in Wells County. However, the moratorium does not prohibit companies from developing commercial solar without tax benefits.
holly@news-banner.com
