The Knox County Commissioners on Tuesday amended and sent back to the Area Plan Commission an ordinance regarding the future of solar farms in Knox County.
At the APC meeting, the Commission changed a recommendation to make a buffer of 300 feet the distance between a building and the barrier of a solar farm. The commissioners discussed at length the barrier length and amended the ordinance to make it a 200 foot barrier instead. After much discussion, the APC and the Commissioners came to a compromise based on what other county ordinances read on the matter.
Another change to the ordinance added language to include the Knox County Council on any economic development agreement. Officials say that this amendment was made because the only governing body that can make tax abatements is the Knox County Council.
Both amendments passed 3-0 and the solar ordinance is headed back to the Knox County Area Plan Commission. There will be discussion with the APC officially on whether to recommend the ordinance or not. That will follow a public hearing in the near future.
