CALHOUN COUNTY, S.C. — Calhoun County passed a six month moratorium on applications for new solar projects in unincorporated areas of the county. The ordinance has stirred mixed reaction from both the community and solar farm industry.
“My feeling is the moratorium in Calhoun County, which I believe is the only one in the state, is really unnecessary," said property owner Julian Wiles.
Wiles owns 1,000 acres of land in the Fort Motte community of Calhoun County and he says solar companies have expressed interest. According to deputy administrator Richard Hall, the county has proximity to high power transmission lines and open farmland.
This makes the county particularly appealing to solar farm developers.
“When we come forward with our actual plan for the solar installation, it will all have permitting processes and so there’s a lot of time that people will have to speak to it and their concerns and we can let people know how it will operate," said Wiles.
There are three solar farms currently in production in Calhoun County with a fourth already approved and on the way. Other residents voiced their support of the moratorium in Monday night's council meeting.
“I feel like moratorium is a great thing to do. I think we need to have a committee appointed by the council to study the issue and come back and make responsible, sensible recommendations," said resident Luther Wannamaker.
Amid concerns about losing farmland and negative environmental impacts, the county says they plan on keeping this in consideration.
“We’ll be looking at our ordinance, obviously getting a lot of input from the community as well as the solar farm industry. Looking at ways to mitigate the impacts. Making sure we’re putting controls in place to protect the environment," said deputy administrator Richard Hall.
The county is working on a zoning ordinance that it plans to present by the end of the moratorium. According to county officials, the ordinance intends to protect land owners of both the solar farms and surrounding areas.