Setback requirements—the minimum distance between industrial solar installations and non-participating properties—are one of the most critical protections in any solar ordinance. Knox County currently requires just 200 feet. Through extensive research, our coalition has documented that this places Knox County among the weakest protections in Indiana.
Understanding Setbacks
A setback is the required distance between a solar installation and various reference points—typically non-participating residences, property lines, roads, and other structures. They serve several critical functions:
- Property value protection: Maintaining visual buffers reduces negative impacts on neighboring property values
- Community character preservation: Adequate distance maintains the rural, agricultural character of areas
- Safety: Distance provides space for emergency response and separates residents from potential fire or equipment hazards
- Fairness: Ensuring those who didn't choose solar development aren't forced to live immediately adjacent to industrial installations
What 200 Feet Actually Means
Knox County's 200-foot requirement sounds reasonable until you visualize it. Two hundred feet is:
- About the length of two standard suburban backyards end-to-end
- Roughly the distance from home plate to the edge of the outfield on a softball field
- The same setback requirement Knox County uses for grain bins
- Less than the length of a city block in most places
For the 45 families who will live within 200 feet of the proposed Iona Solar project alone, this means industrial solar panels will dominate their views, potentially affecting their property values, and fundamentally changing their daily living environment—all without their consent.
How Knox County Compares
Our research into Indiana county ordinances reveals that Knox County's 200-foot setback is significantly weaker than protections in most counties. Here's how we compare to just a sample of Indiana counties:
| County | Solar Setback | BESS Setback | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 200 ft | NONE | 2020 ordinance, no updates |
| Wabash County | 350-650 ft | 1,320 ft | Tiered setbacks, 2,000 acre cap |
| Jasper County | 1,000 ft | 1,320 ft | 1-mile property value guarantee |
| Shelby County | 660 ft | Regulated | Increased from 100 ft (560% increase) |
| Delaware County | 500 ft | Regulated | 5,000 acre cap, property value guarantee |
| St. Joseph County | 500 ft | Regulated | Unanimous 9-0 vote for increases |
| Blackford County | 1,000 ft | Varies | 1,000 ft from all dwellings |
These are just examples. Our research shows that 79% of Indiana counties have taken action to strengthen protections since 2020. Nineteen counties that already had ordinances made changes after implementation—they learned from experience and strengthened their rules.
Shelby County originally had a 100-foot setback—even weaker than Knox County's. After experience with solar development, they increased it to 660 feet—a 560% increase. This shows that counties learn from initial ordinances and recognize the need for stronger protections.
Why Setbacks Matter: Real Impact
The difference between Knox County's 200-foot setback and the 1,000-2,500 foot setbacks many counties have adopted isn't academic. It has real consequences for real families:
Iona Solar Project Impact
- At 200 feet (current): 45 families live within setback distance
- At 500 feet: Would reduce impacted families significantly
- At 1,000 feet: Would reduce to 16 families within setback
- At 1,500-2,500 feet: Would provide meaningful buffer zones protecting most non-participants
Stronger setbacks don't prevent solar development—they ensure it happens in appropriate locations with adequate buffers to protect families who chose not to participate.
Battery Storage: An Even Bigger Gap
While Knox County's 200-foot solar panel setback is weak, our ordinance has an even more glaring problem: zero regulations for battery energy storage systems (BESS). Many counties have recognized that battery storage requires enhanced setbacks due to unique fire safety concerns:
- Wabash County: 1,320 feet for BESS (versus 350-650 for panels)
- Jasper County: 1,320 feet for BESS (versus 1,000 for panels)
- Multiple counties: Specific BESS regulations with enhanced setbacks
- Knox County: Zero BESS regulations of any kind
The reason counties establish larger BESS setbacks is safety. Lithium-ion battery fires can burn for days, release toxic gases, and require specialized firefighting equipment and training that many rural fire departments lack. Adequate distance protects residents from these risks.
The Fairness Question
At its core, the setback debate is about fairness. In Knox County's three solar projects:
- 6 families signed leases and will receive compensation
- 87 families live near projects and receive nothing
- Those 87 families had no say in the decision
- They face potential property value losses of 5-40% according to research
- They must live with altered views and community character
Is it fair that one property owner's financial decision can dramatically impact neighboring property owners with no consent, no compensation, and minimal setback protection? This is exactly the question that adequate setbacks address.
What the Coalition Advocates
The Knox County Coalition for Safe Solar Practices is advocating for setback requirements consistent with Indiana's stronger ordinances:
Public Safety Protection:
- 1,500-2,500 feet from non-participating residences (tiered approach based on project size) to protect families from fire danger, toxic smoke exposure, and storm debris
- Enhanced BESS setbacks of 1,320 feet minimum, matching counties like Wabash and Jasper, due to thermal runaway risks, toxic gas emissions, and multi-day fire duration
- Adequate space for first responders to operate safely without standing next to energized equipment
- Protection from storm debris (panels, racking, metal sheets) documented in Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, and Texas incidents
Well Water & Environmental Safety:
- Protect thousands of Knox County families dependent on private wells from construction contamination, chemical runoff from damaged panels, and stormwater impacts
- Buffer zones to prevent heavy metals (cadmium, lead) from reaching wells, gardens, and livestock water sources
- Recognition that Knox County has no municipal water alternative - contamination means trucking water and holding tanks
- Standard filters cannot remove solar panel chemicals
Livestock & Agricultural Operations:
- 2,500 feet from livestock operations to prevent documented productivity losses: 8% milk production decrease (Michigan State), cattle avoiding grazing within 800 feet (Iowa State), 10-20% poultry egg production decrease
- Protection from panel glare impacts on cattle, horses, poultry, and swine behavioral health
- Safeguarding multi-generational farm investments and Knox County's agricultural economy
Vulnerable Populations:
- 2,500 feet from medically sensitive residents who face heightened risks from air quality impacts and emergency evacuation delays
- 2,500 feet from schools to protect children, ensure safe evacuation routes, and maintain air quality standards
- 2,500 feet from churches serving as community anchors and emergency shelters
Property Rights & Financial Protection:
- Property value guarantee zones as implemented in surrounding counties to compensate for documented 5-7% property value reductions within 2,000 feet
- Meaningful community input requirements for projects affecting non-participants
- Taxpayer protection from emergency response costs and cleanup liability
These aren't radical proposals. They're standard protections that 73 other Indiana counties have recognized as necessary. We're simply asking Knox County to join the majority of Indiana counties in providing adequate protections for residents.
Common Arguments Against Stronger Setbacks
We've heard several arguments against increasing setbacks. Here's our response to the most common:
"Stronger setbacks will prevent solar development"
False. Counties with 1,000+ foot setbacks still have successful solar projects. Stronger setbacks simply ensure projects are sited appropriately with adequate buffers. If a project can only work by putting panels 200 feet from people's homes without their consent, perhaps that's not an appropriate location.
"Property owners have rights to use their land"
Absolutely—and neighboring property owners have rights too. Property rights aren't absolute; they're always balanced against neighbors' rights. That's why we have zoning, setbacks, and nuisance laws. One person's property rights end where another's begin.
"Knox County needs the tax revenue"
Tax revenue doesn't justify inadequate protections. Counties with strong setbacks still receive tax benefits from appropriately-sited projects. Moreover, property value losses for neighboring homes reduce tax revenues—potentially offsetting solar project gains.
"We already have an ordinance"
Yes, from 2020—and 19 Indiana counties that had ordinances recognized they needed strengthening and made changes. Experience teaches lessons. Knox County should learn from other counties rather than insisting our initial attempt was perfect.
Taking Action
The upcoming commissioners meetings will discuss amendments to Knox County's Solar Ordinance, including setback requirements. This is our opportunity to bring Knox County's protections in line with the 73 counties that have recognized the need for stronger standards.
You can help by:
- Signing our petition supporting stronger setbacks (over 600 signatures already)
- Attending commissioners meetings and speaking during public comment
- Contacting commissioners directly to voice support for enhanced protections
- Sharing this analysis with neighbors and community members
- Joining our coalition to stay informed about upcoming meetings and actions
Knox County deserves the same level of protection that 79% of Indiana counties have recognized as necessary. Two hundred feet isn't enough—not when our neighboring counties require 1,000-2,500 feet, not when 45 families will live within that inadequate distance, and not when we have zero battery storage regulations.
We support renewable energy. We support responsible development. That means adequate setbacks that protect all residents—participating and non-participating alike.
The Knox County Coalition for Safe Solar Practices represents over 600 concerned citizens advocating for stronger protections. Visit our website, sign the petition, and help us ensure Knox County joins the 73 other Indiana counties that have recognized the need for enhanced solar development standards.