Background

In May 2021, elected and appointed officials in Noble County, Indiana, provided the first opportunity for members of the public to provide input on solar requirements to create an ordinance for the development of commercial solar energy systems (utility-scale solar projects) in unincorporated portions of the county.  Developers of such large-scale "solar farms" have targeted Noble County because of the expanse of suitable land and proximity to overhead, high-power transmission lines needed to add supplemental energy to the power grid that serves here and across Northeast Indiana.

From 2021 to 2024, more than a dozen, advertised public hearings have been hosted by the Noble County Plan Commission and Noble County Commissioners to receive public input to guide the development of an ordinance. During that time, a plethora of research by many parties has unearthed data and facts about solar technologies, the use of farmland, agrivoltaics (an innovative approach that combines agriculture and solar energy production on the same land), and economic considerations associated with commercial solar development. Countless other communities across the nation are using commercials "solar farms" to provide American-made, renewable, supplemental energy to help meet the growing demands for electricity and make up for the mandated closure of coal-fired power plants, including more than a dozen in Indiana alone. These projects are made possible by the voluntary and willing participation of landowners.

As of January 2025, the opportunity for Noble County to receive applications from commercial solar developers is in limbo while elected and appointed county officials continue to grapple with public opinion.  In the meantime, Noble County and Northeast Indiana have been advised by economic developers, utilities, and other stakeholders of the present and growing concerns over growing energy demands.  Learn more by exploring the resources below.  Scroll to the bottom for additional information and links.  ​