Mark Webber | The Republic Greg Daily, left, discusses advantages of solar power with other property owners in Clay and Flat Rock townships who are planning to lease land to solar companies for a solar farm. Listening, from left to right, are William D. Boyer, Lois Bonnell, Scott Bonnell and Cindy Finkel.
A group of Bartholomew County property owners working with two solar energy companies to provide land for a “solar field” in Clay and Flat Rock townships say they want to be part of the solution to climate change.
The project is proposed to be located somewhere between County Road 450N to the north – State Road 9 to the east – East 25th Street to the south and County Road 425E to the west, according to GPS coordinates.
It’s being headed by two U.S. based companies, Tenaska and Arevon, with construction expected to begin next year or in 2024, and the solar field is expected to have a lifespan of 30 years, according to the companies. Tenaska and Arevon plan to establish setbacks of 100 to 200 feet from neighboring property.
The solar companies have been trying to secure about three-square miles of land in Clay and Flat Rock Townships, said Lois Bonnell, who is leasing land with her husband, Bartholomew County Council member Scott Bonnell.
But an exact location hasn’t been selected at this time, according to Greg Daily, landowner and president of Daily Feed &Grain. The solar companies plan to work with local government to put panels in a secluded area that is clear of wetlands and where new power can easily be transferred on to the main power grid, Daily said.
When a location is finally chosen and the solar company is ready to move forward, they will be required to seek a conditional use variance that must include at least one public hearing before the Bartholomew County Board of Zoning Appeals.
Initially, there was skepticism among a number of group members when approached about leasing land for a proposed 200-megawatt solar farm. But Daily says he doesn’t believe the project will take up an excessive amount of space.
“This will actually be a very small amount of acreage,” Daily said. “It’s nothing big at all.”
Besides securing some dependable income, a number of landowners said they signed up when they realized the status quo with fossil fuels is not sustainable.
“Whether you are for it or against it, you are not going to stop (solar power),” Lois Bonnell said.
Duke Energy has already announced it will dramatically slash coal generation’s share from the current 22% of total generation to only 5% by 2030, and achieve a full phase-out by 2035.
But perhaps a more significant reason is the overwhelming evidence of climate change that include changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, ocean temperatures increasing, sea levels rising and melting glaciers.
“I want to be part of the solution,” farmland owner Robert Finkel said. “Not part of the problem.”
Daily said he became more interested in energy security after learning about California’s rolling blackouts, an intentionally engineered power shutdown in which electricity delivery is temporarily stopped in rotating areas.
The Petersville resident did extensive research that included information from North Carolina State University and the University of Illinois.
The Bonnells said they pulled together similar research from both Ball State and Indiana University. Another property owner, Joe Bush, pointed out that at least two local attorneys specializing in real estate are making sure all concerns about the solar farm are being properly addressed.
One concern expressed by opponents to solar projects is that they hurt neighboring property values.
Daily said his research shows solar panels do not usually change those values, and in many cases, will increase it.
Neighbors often ask those leasing property how much they are receiving. According to the contract, the landowners aren’t supposed to share that information with the public.
“But I’ll guarantee you it’s not as much as some people think,” Daily said.
On a national basis, land is usually leased for amounts ranging from $250 to $2,000 per acre per year, according to the SolarLandLease website. The top factor determining lease payments is what the highest revenue-generating use of the land will yield.
Modern technology has eliminated any need for liquid chemicals in solar arrays, which means the panels are not toxic to the environment, according to several members of the group.
If a panel is damaged, the solar companies are under contract to replace it the next day, Scott Bonnell said. That’s because malfunctioning solar equipment means less money for the companies, his wife added.
Finkel reminds opponents a solar field project isn’t permanent like housing or commercial developments, Finkel said.
“We don’t want them turned into houses or roads, “Finkel said. “By doing this, we can keep this land for further generations.”
The solar companies have agreed to finance a surety bond to ensure the land is eventually restored to its original condition after the life of the solar field expires, Scott Bonnell said.
Keeping it green
The project site will be planted with a mix of native perennial meadow grasses that provide benefits to soil, water quality and wildlife, according to the companies. In addition, a number of landowners say they plan to add trees and shrubs to make the area more aesthetically pleasing.
“With this project, at least you will be looking at something green that is growing,”agronomist and landowner Brian Bush said. “But if you are living in town, you are probably looking at somebody’s privacy fence in your backyard.”
While the potential for soil erosion has been a concern for the project’s opponents, Bush says the companies are obligated not to damage field tiles, which would have a negative impact on water tables.
“They’ll move those around to make sure they aren’t going through the tiles,” Bush said. “So under the provisions of the contract, you should not see any soil erosion.”
Opponents have stated that fields with crops give off more oxygen in the summer than a rain forest. But if there is a cover crop under perennials, pollinators and landscaping all year long, Bush said that would likely emit as much oxygen than conventional farming, if not more.
“Those who talk about farm fields producing oxygen in the summer fail to mention that we do have forests and woods that also do the same thing year-round,” Bush added.
While some see solar fields as a waste of prime agricultural land, Bush said much of the corn being locally grown is used for making ethanol for gasoline.
“Our corn will make ethanol from May through October,’ Bush said. “Solar panels will be working 12 months out of the year. We will be harvesting energy consistently.”
There are a number of Indiana counties, including Shelby, where solar energy is being challenged. Landowner Joe Bush says he has seen professionally-designed yard signs opposing solar fields well outside of Bartholomew County.
“There’s some people with a lot of money behind them who just don’t want to look at solar panels,” Bush said.
A divisive climate
Landowner Tony Harden expressed hope that if his neighbors are given facts instead of misinformation, they would be more supportive of the solar fields.
Boyer said he has already heard from those who plan to object to the solar farm when a hearing is scheduled.
“I got a 45-minute dissertation from one of the objectors,” Boyer said. “I have had it pushed down my throat about how inefficient solar panels are. I just couldn’t go on and on about all the negative things he was spewing out.”
A nonprofit group is seeking a temporary moratorium on the leasing of Bartholomew County agricultural lands for solar farms as the county prepares to consider “commercial solar regulations.”
The group, Bartholomew County Citizens Concerned about Commercial Solar Fields (B4CSF), is seeking a halt to the construction of large-scale solar energy plants until a community discussion can be held regarding its impact, group member Matt Carothers said in an earlier interview.
The results of that discussion should help determine whether Bartholomew County should have an ordinance to go along with conditional use standards for solar farms, he said.
But this group of landowners have few negative comments about those who would be in opposition to the project. As Lois Bonnell said, no one understands how hard change can be than a farmer.
“There will always be uncertainty and skepticism with change,” she said. “But what would our world look like today if our ancestors hadn’t accepted advancement in technology? I’m excited to contribute to a more sustainable future, while keeping the land in my family for future generations.”
