Carla Clark | For the Republic Ben Landry, Arevon group relations, clockwise from left, Carol Kellegham and her partner Lynn Finkel, Trish Evans, Arevon director of group relations, and Peter Gray, Aileron vice chairman consumer companies, go to through the Swallowtail Solar public data occasion which was carried out. at The Columbus Workshop, Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, July 16, 2024
A photo voltaic vitality firm will search approval subsequent week from the Bartholomew County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to maneuver ahead with its plans to construct a 200-megawatt industrial photo voltaic vitality system.
Swallowtail Solar LLC filed an utility final month to start acquiring permits to construct methods on 1,192 acres unfold throughout 21 privately owned properties in Clay and Flat Rock townships. The BZA will contemplate that request throughout a 6 pm assembly Monday within the first ground assembly room at Columbus City Hall.
The photo voltaic panels, which Swallowtail officers say are anticipated to generate sufficient vitality to energy greater than 30,000 houses, are principally bordered by County Road 500E to the west, County Road 275N to the south, County Road 650E to the east and elements of the County. Road 400N north.
If the county’s BZA approval is granted, in addition to permission from town to put in a high-voltage transmission line, building may start within the fall of 2025, Swallowtail Development Manager Jemma mentioned. King.
With building anticipated to final 14 months, the industrial photo voltaic vitality system will not be operational till the top of 2026 on the earliest, he mentioned.
On Tuesday, Swallowtail – a division of Arevon Energy Inc. – held an off-the-cuff open home to permit native residents to speak concerning the challenge on a one-to-one foundation. Liz Wire, who lives within the Royal View subdivision close to Petersville, mentioned she got here to the occasion simply to study extra concerning the challenge.
“I’m undecided the place the challenge is, and the way it’s related to my neighborhood,” Wire mentioned. “I realized that they create a pollinator-friendly habitat, permitting it to evolve. Restoring the bee inhabitants is a giant concern, particularly for farmers. “
After talking with Swallowtail officers, Wire expressed his help for the challenge.
“Coal and oil will not be renewable issues in our lifetime,” Wire mentioned. “One of lately, it is going to run out, so it’s a must to have a backup plan that does not occur in a single day.”
Wire mentioned he additionally likes {that a} farmer can proceed to personal the land and simply hire it till one other era is able to use the property for agricultural functions.
“But for those who put a subdivision in there, it is gone endlessly,” Wire mentioned.
A pair who hire land in Swallowtail who attended the open home have been Lynn Finkel and Carol Kelleghan.
Finkel says he admires Arevon Energy, Inc. to work with county officers to develop essentially the most viable resolution for the photo voltaic vitality system.
“We’ve gone by way of the method distilled by commissioners, by way of council, by way of planning — and right here we’re with a proposal that meets all the mandatory standards,” Finkel mentioned. “I hope the BZA sees it that manner.”
After attending an eight-day vitality convention, Kelleghan says he gained a greater understanding that there’s fixed competitors in vitality as a result of demand is consistently rising. That’s why quite a lot of completely different vitality sources are wanted, he mentioned.
“I feel (Swallowtail) is a superb alternative as a result of we have now an amazing location right here,” Kelleghan mentioned. “One that may work with the entire group.”
Kelleghan additionally mentioned that he helps different types of vitality as a result of he has beloved youngsters and grandchildren who should stay in a clear atmosphere.
“Why do not you need clear air and clear water?” Finkel requested. “To me, it is a big conservation challenge.”