Safe Solar Development for Knox County

Protecting Property Rights, Public Safety & Community Character

Sign the Petition

We are 600+ Knox County citizens united in our commitment to responsible renewable energy development that honors our community's heritage while protecting our future.

Knox County has a proud farming heritage spanning generations. Our agricultural families have stewarded this land with care, building a community rooted in hard work, neighborly respect, and responsible land use. As we face new challenges with large-scale commercial solar development, we must ensure these same values guide our path forward.

We support solar energy — but it must be done right. Through extensive research of solar ordinances across Indiana and beyond, we've identified critical gaps in Knox County's current 2020 Solar Ordinance that put our residents, environment, and taxpayers at risk:

  • Battery Storage Safety: Large-scale lithium-ion battery systems require specific safety protocols, setbacks, and emergency response plans that our current ordinance does not address.
  • Inadequate Setbacks: Our current 200-foot setback is among the weakest in Indiana. Numerous other counties have recognized the need for greater protection.
  • Environmental Protections: Stormwater management, well water protection, soil erosion control, wetland protection, and wildlife impact assessments are either missing or inadequately addressed.
  • Property Rights & Values: Without proper protections, non-participating neighbors face potential property devaluation, viewshed impacts, potential insurance claims, and loss of rural character with no recourse.
  • Taxpayer Liability: Insufficient decommissioning bonds and financial guarantees could leave Knox County taxpayers responsible for cleanup costs if developers fail to properly remove installations.
  • Grandfathering Concerns: Proposed language could lock in inadequate standards for decades, preventing future improvements even as technology and best practices evolve.

Our coalition represents farmers, families, small business owners, and concerned citizens who believe renewable energy and community protection are not mutually exclusive. We advocate for common-sense standards that allow solar development while ensuring adequate safety measures, respecting property rights, protecting our agricultural heritage, and safeguarding taxpayers.

We're not against solar — we're for doing it responsibly. Knox County deserves solar development policies that protect all residents, both those who choose to participate and those who do not.

600+
Citizens Signed Our Petition
73
Indiana Counties Taking Action
87
Families Impacted & Rising (Excluding 6 who leased)
200 ft
Current Inadequate Setback
0
Battery Storage Regulations

Knox County Solar Projects: Local Impact

Two approved projects and 1 proposed project will fundamentally change our community. Here are the facts.

🏗️ Wheatland Solar (Complete)

Total Project Size ~1,200 acres
Homes within 500 ft 3
Homes within 200 ft 2
Total Homes Affected 5
Status Complete

✅ Ratts II Solar (Approved)

Total Project Size ~1,200 acres
Homes within 200 ft 10
Homes within 500 ft 5
Total Homes Affected 15
Status Approved

📋 Iona Solar Project (Proposed)

Total Project Size ~3,000 acres
Road Frontage 17 miles
Homes within 1,000 ft 16
Homes within 500 ft 12
Homes within 200 ft 45
Total Homes Affected 73

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who Benefits vs. Who Loses

Homeowners who signed leases 6
Homeowners with NOTHING to gain 87
Compensation for non-participants $0
Protection under current ordinance NONE

🌾 Farmland Impact (Iona Project)

Total acreage ~3,000 ac
Leased by active farmers 400 ac
Leased by former farmers 1,300 ac
Leased by non-farming inheritors 1,300 ac
Farmland local farmers must replace 2,600 ac

🛣️ Roads Impacted by Iona Solar Project (17 Miles Total)

Hart Street
Highway 241
Monroe School Road
Shouse Road
Hickory Corner Road
Hamlin Chapel Road
Christmas Road
Middle Hart Street Road


🛣️ Roads Impacted by Ratts II

State Road 61
County Road 1000 E
East Saints Church Rd
County Road 250 S
2nd Run Rd
Snowball Rd
Strip Pit Rd
S Houchin Rd
Pond Creek Rd


🛣️ Roads Impacted by Wheatland Solar

N Ghost Hollow
County Rd SE 1000 E
E Beaver Rd
Sycamore Rd
County Rd SE 1400 E
Lost Tree Rd
Apraw Rd
N McKinley Cemetary Rd
Hall Rd


🛣️ Roads Impacted by Lucky Point Project (Gathering Information)

Lucky Point Rd
TBD

Proximity Without Choice

Most families living near solar projects aren't participating landowners, they're neighbors and members of the community we all love. Inadequate setbacks mean living adjacent to industrial infrastructure without compensation or the safeguards that stronger ordinances provide to non-participating properties.

Indiana Counties Taking Action on Solar

73 of 92 Indiana counties (79%) have imposed moratoriums, passed bans, or strengthened their solar ordinances. 19 of them have or had an ordinance, and made changes after creating it. Knox County should join them.

79%

of Indiana counties have taken action to strengthen solar protections. Below are a handful of examples. This map will be updated as additional counties are verified.

Moratorium Active/Recent
Ordinance Amended/Strengthened
Strong Protections (500+ ft)
Knox County (Your County)

How Knox County Compares

Our 2020 ordinance is among the weakest in Indiana. See how other counties are protecting their residents.

Setback Distance Comparison (Feet from Non-Participating Homes)

Battery Storage (BESS) Setback Requirements

Counties That Strengthened Ordinances After Moratorium

Decommissioning Bond Requirements (30-Year Project)

Indiana County Solar Ordinance Comparison

County Solar Setback BESS Setback Moratorium? Key Features
Knox County 200 ft NONE No 2020 ordinance, no updates, zero BESS regulations
Wabash County 350-650 ft 1,320 ft Yes (2024) 2,000 acre cap, tiered setbacks, Resolution No. 4
Shelby County 660 ft Varies Yes (2019) Increased from 100 ft to 660 ft (560% increase)
Jasper County 1,000 ft 1,320 ft No 1-mile property value guarantee, strong BESS rules
Delaware County 500 ft Regulated Yes (3x) 5,000 acre cap, property value guarantee, 3 moratoriums
St. Joseph County 500 ft Regulated Considered Unanimous 9-0 vote for increased setbacks
Madison County 400-450 ft Regulated Yes (5 yrs) 20% prime farmland limit, 3-mile property value guarantee
Marshall County 150-325 ft Regulated Yes (2025) 12,000 acre cap, 17 categories of regulations
Blackford County 1,000 ft Varies Unknown 1,000 ft from dwellings

Critical Issues in Knox County's 2020 Solar Ordinance

These regulatory gaps put residents at risk and create long-term liabilities for taxpayers

🔥

Zero Battery Storage Regulations

No BESS regulations exist despite known fire risks. Jasper County requires 1,320 ft setbacks. Knox County requires nothing.

  • Lithium-ion battery fires burn for days
  • Local departments lack specialized training
  • Toxic smoke poses severe health risks
  • No fire suppression requirements
  • Liability falls back on taxpayers for training and certifications
📏

Inadequate 200-Foot Setbacks

200 feet is among the weakest in Indiana. Wabash County requires 1,320 ft for BESS. Shelby increased theirs by 560%.

  • 45 Iona homes within 200 ft of panels
  • Same distance as a grain bin
  • No consent required from neighbors
  • Citizens request 1,500-2,500 ft minimum (A tiered approach)
💰

No Property Value Protection

Zero compensation available while 67 families face potential 20-40% property value losses from Iona alone. 87 total households are impacted overall. This number continues climbing each day. For a $150,000 home, a 5% reduction equals $7,500 in lost value. If 250 homes near a solar installation experience this impact, that's $1.875 million in collective wealth loss for Knox County residents

  • Jasper County: 1-mile guarantee zone
  • Madison County: 3-mile guarantee
  • Delaware County: Added guarantees
  • Knox County: Nothing
🌾

No Farmland Protections

No acreage caps or prime farmland limits. Iona alone will remove 2,600 acres that local farmers currently lease.

  • Delaware County: 5,000 acre cap
  • Madison County: 20% prime farmland limit
  • Wabash County: 2,000 acre cap
  • Knox County: Unlimited
⚠️

Weak Decommissioning Bonds

Current bonds may not cover cleanup costs in 30 years, leaving Knox County taxpayers on the hook.

  • Best practice: 125-135% of costs
  • Annual inflation adjustments needed
  • Irrevocable surety bonds required
  • Current requirements inadequate
⚖️

Grandfathering Creates Inequity

Creates two classes of citizens—those protected by future rules and those permanently locked in under the current weak ordinance.

  • Existing projects exempt from improvements
  • No mechanism to address problems
  • Zero accountability for operations
  • Fundamentally unjust system

What's Actually In These Contracts?

We analyzed commercial solar lease agreements to uncover the terms landowners are signing. What we found demonstrates exactly why Knox County needs stronger protections.

We've obtained and analyzed a commercial solar lease agreement being offered to Indiana landowners. These contracts—some approaching 70 pages—contain terms that heavily favor developers while stripping landowners of fundamental property rights.

Our analysis revealed systematic patterns of one sided terms, missing protections, and loopholes that leave landowners and taxpayers vulnerable.

⚠️

Extreme Contract Length

  • Initial term: Up to 37 years
  • Extensions: TWO additional 10-year periods (developer's option)
  • Total possible commitment: 57 YEARS
  • Landowner cannot terminate
  • Developer can terminate anytime without cause

Impact: Multi-generational surrender of property control with no exit option for owners.

💰

Deceptive Payment Structure

  • Production payments often limited to 2-3% of revenue
  • No inflation adjustments over decades
  • Developer controls what counts as "revenue"
  • No minimum payment guarantees in many cases

Impact: Landowners sign binding 57-year contracts without knowing what they'll be paid.

🏦

Lender Protection Racket

  • Lenders can force landowners into new leases if developer defaults
  • Lenders get unlimited time to cure defaults
  • Landowner loses termination rights during "cure periods"
  • Original lease automatically extends to accommodate lenders
  • No requirement that lenders honor original terms

Impact: Lenders have more rights to your property than you do.

♻️

Inadequate Decommissioning

  • No requirement for upfront decommissioning bonds
  • Decommissioning costs estimated by developer (not independent engineer)
  • No inflation adjustments to bond amount
  • Bond not required until construction complete

Impact: Taxpayers at risk for cleanup costs decades later when companies dissolve.

🚫

Mineral Rights Surrender

  • Landowner must waive surface rights for oil, gas, and minerals
  • Cannot extract minerals even after solar lease ends
  • Applies to entire property, not just solar area
  • Permanent restriction on deed

Impact: Loss of mineral rights worth potentially millions over time.

🤐

Confidentiality Gag Order

  • Landowner cannot disclose contract terms
  • Cannot warn neighbors about problematic provisions
  • Cannot seek advice from community members
  • Violation triggers breach of contract

Impact: Prevents community from learning what's actually in these agreements.

⚖️

Assignment Without Consent

  • Developer can assign lease to anyone without landowner approval
  • No restrictions on assignee qualifications
  • No requirement for assignee financial stability
  • Landowner stuck with unknown third parties

Impact: You sign with Company A but could end up dealing with unknown Company Z.

🏗️

Unlimited Construction Rights

  • Developer can build on any part of property
  • Can relocate facilities without notice
  • No restrictions on equipment size or type
  • Can add battery storage without additional compensation
  • 24/7 access rights for "maintenance"

Impact: Complete loss of control over your own property.

Critical Protections MISSING From These Contracts:

❌ No noise level limits
❌ No electromagnetic field limits
❌ No stormwater management requirements
❌ No topsoil preservation requirements
❌ No agricultural land restoration guarantees
❌ No habitat protection provisions
❌ No community benefit agreements
❌ No local hiring requirements
❌ No performance bond for damages
❌ No independent environmental monitoring
❌ No property value protection
❌ No mediation/arbitration provisions

Why Strong County Ordinances Matter

These contracts demonstrate exactly why Knox County cannot rely on private agreements to protect residents and taxpayers. When developers write the contracts, landowners sign away their rights.

What Other Counties Have Done

Every county that paused to review their ordinance made protections STRONGER, not weaker.

1

Comprehensive BESS Safety Standards

Like Jasper County: 1,320-foot setbacks for battery storage, developer-funded fire department training, fire suppression systems, and emergency response protocols.

2

Meaningful Setback Increases

Like Shelby County: Increase from 200 ft to 1,500+ ft baseline. Wabash County achieved 1,320 ft for BESS. Shelby increased 560%.

3

Property Value Guarantees

Like Jasper & Madison Counties: Compensation for non-participating property owners within 1-3 miles whose values decline due to solar development.

4

Farmland Acreage Caps

Like Wabash (2,000 ac), Delaware (5,000 ac), or Marshall (12,000 ac): Limit total county acreage that can be converted to industrial solar.

5

Stronger Decommissioning Bonds

125-135% irrevocable surety bonds with inflation adjustments every 5 years. Protect taxpayers, not developers.

6

Pause and Review (Moratorium)

Like 73 other Indiana counties: Temporary pause to update 2020 ordinance before more projects are approved under inadequate rules.

Upcoming Meetings

Your voice matters. Show up and be counted.

--
TBD
🕒 TBD

County Commissioners Meeting

📍 Vincennes City Hall, 203 Vigo St
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We need your help

Solar projects are proposed countywide. Proper setbacks protect everyone.

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Knox County Deserves Better

73 Indiana counties have strengthened their solar protections. Knox County's 2020 ordinance remains one of the weakest. Help us change that.

Sign the Petition Contact Your Commissioner

Contact Your Representatives

600 + constituents have signed our petition. Officials need to hear from you directly.

TJ Brink

District 1

📞 (812) 885-2514

📱 Contact via Messenger (Mobile)

📱 Contact via Facebook (Web Browser)

✉️ tbrink@knoxcounty.in.gov

Tim Ellerman

District 2

📞 (812) 885-2514

📱 Contact via Messenger (Mobile)

📱 Contact via Facebook (Web Browser)

✉️ tellerman@knoxcounty.in.gov

Kellie Streeter

District 3

📞 (812) 885-2514

📱 Contact via Messenger (Mobile)

📱 Contact via Facebook (Web Browser)

✉️ kellie.streeter@knoxcounty.in.gov