Carla Clark | For the Republic Ben Landry, Arevon community relations, clockwise from left, Carol Kellegham and her spouse Lynn Finkel, Trish Evans, Arevon director of community relations, and Peter Gray, Aileron vice president client services, visit during the Swallowtail Solar public information event held at The Columbus Workshop, Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, July 16, 2024
A solar energy company will seek approval next week from the Bartholomew County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to move ahead with their plans to build a 200-megawatt commercial solar energy system.
Swallowtail Solar LLC filed an application last month to begin securing permits to construct the systems on 1,192 acres spread across 21 privately owned properties in Clay and Flat Rock townships. The BZA will consider that request during a 6 p.m. meeting Monday in the first floor meeting room at Columbus City Hall.
The solar panels, which Swallowtail officials say the expect to generate enough energy to power more than 30,000 homes, will largely be bordered by County Road 500E to the west, County Road 275N to the south, County Road 650E to the east and parts of County Road 400N to the north.
If the county BZA approval is given, as well as permission from the city to install a high voltage transmission line, construction could begin as soon as the fall of 2025, Swallowtail Development Manager Jemma King said.
With construction expected to last 14 months, the commercial solar energy system won’t become operational until the end of 2026 at the earliest, she said.
On Tuesday, Swallowtail – a division of Arevon Energy Inc. – held an informal open house to allow local residents to talk about the project on a one-to-one basis. Liz Wire, who lives in the Royal View subdivision near Petersville, said she came to the event simply to learn more about the project.
“I wasn’t exactly sure where the project was, and how it would be connected to my neighborhood,” Wire said. “I learned they will create a pollinator-friendly habitat, allowing it to regenerate. Restoring our bee population is a big concern, especially the farmers.”
After talking with Swallowtail officials, Wire voiced her support for the project.
“Coal and oil are not things that are going to regenerate in our lifetime,” Wire said. “One of these days, it’s going to run out, so we need to have a backup plan that won’t happen overnight.”
Wire said she also likes the fact that a farmer can continue to own the land and just lease it until another generation is ready to use the property for agricultural purposes.
“But if you put a subdivision on there, it’s gone forever,” Wire said.
A couple who is leasing land to Swallowtail who attended the open house were Lynn Finkel and Carol Kelleghan.
Finkel says he admires Arevon Energy, Inc. for working with county officials to come up with the most workable solution for the solar energy systems.
“We’ve gone through the process that was distilled down to the commissioners, through the council, through planning – and here we are with a proposal that meets all the necessary criteria,” Finkel said. ” I’m hopeful the BZA will see it that way.”
After attending an eight-day energy conference, Kelleghan says she gained a better understanding that there will always be competition in energy because the need is always increasing. That’s why a variety of different energy sources are needed, she said.
“I think (Swallowtail) is a wonderful opportunity because we have a great location here, “Kelleghan said. “One that can work with the whole community.”
Kelleghan also said she supports alternative forms of energy because she has beloved children and grandchildren who deserve to live in a clean environment.
“Why wouldn’t you want clean air and clean water?” Finkel asked. “To me, this is one giant conservation project.”
