Recently, Anderson County Commissioners heard a draft outline from County Planning Director Tom Young on solar field regulations that would include limitations on the number of acres in a solar installation and put a limit n the total area that can be used by their projects in Anderson County. Commission Chair Les McGhee says setback requirements would also be on the table as commissioners and members of the planning board start to assemble policies that would apply to any solar installation under consideration.
Supporters say renewable energy from sunlight and wind is the future and under current federal tax credits helps guarantee revenue for farmers. Opponents say renewable energy takes valuable agriculture land out of production and can’t stand on its own without government assistance, while scaring the landscape of thousands of acres where they are constructed.
Solar farms have been just as controversial as wind farms in some rural areas. Controversy has raged in Franklin County over two solar developments and other counties’ have taken steps to significantly limit both wind and solar operations.
