NORTH LIBERTY, Ind. (WSBT) — A proposed photo voltaic farm has angered North Liberty residents, and lots of say they really feel blindsided by the proposal.
If constructed, that 2500-acre photo voltaic farm can be one of many largest within the state.
A 2,500-acre photo voltaic farm might go up simply throughout from Potato Creek State Park.
Now, North Liberty residents are asking why their city?
“I do not know concerning the undertaking. I like photo voltaic however on the similar time I do not like how they do the entire course of. It feels very insidious,” mentioned Amanda Mitchell, Rethink Industrial Solar Founder.
Members of the North Liberty neighborhood have made it clear they aren’t completely happy a couple of proposed photo voltaic farm quickly to be on their doorstep.
Now, they’re teaming up with Rethink Solar Industrial, a gaggle that goals to persuade county officers to construct elsewhere.
Hexagon Energy from Charlottesville, Virginia, has been working since 2021 asking landowners to lease the farm in response to the Rethink Industrial Solar web site.
The group’s founder mentioned the neighborhood was utterly unaware of the proposal.
“What they’ve achieved is principally taken away our rights to have a say about residing subsequent to an industrial farm,” Mitchell mentioned.
Mitchell added that it is not about shedding the farm. For others, it is extra about wildlife safety, as Potato Creek State Park is situated a stone’s throw from the world.
“And that can cease the stream of animals and property. We bought numerous animal runs, wild turkeys you identify it. But what occurs if we fence that off a portion of the property,” Mitchell requested.
The group has additionally provide you with different websites the place photo voltaic farms might be constructed, with out affecting the farm, neighborhood or wildlife.
“What concerning the superfund website? Can we put all these photo voltaic panels on a website that is not good for people to start with? Or brownstone or what about perhaps it is not doable anymore however how concerning the landfill,” Mitchel mentioned.
As for subsequent steps, Mitchell mentioned they’ll proceed to brainstorm.
“We had just a little assembly between neighbors and mates to, um, provide you with concepts,” Mitchell mentioned.
The subsequent public assembly to debate the farm is June 18 on the County-City constructing.