The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will consider scheduling a public hearing to extend its solar farm moratorium. The current moratorium on large-scale solar operations is set to expire on Oct. 6.

The commissioners originally placed a pause on gound-mounted solar farms in October after citizens expressed their opposition to the construction of a 400-acre solar farm by China Grove Solar in western Rowan County, North Carolina.

The display of resistance to the large solar operation prompted county leaders to consider the process through which they would approve solar farms in the future. In order to examine that process, county leaders issued a moratorium on accepting new applications for creating or expanding ground mounted solar energy systems in excess of 6,000 square feet. 

The moratorium was initially scheduled to terminate on April 7, but commissioners extended the moratorium for six more months. The extension was designed to allow county staff and the planning board more time. However, restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 health concerns have prevented staff members from making real progress toward that goal, according to Tuesday's agenda document

As a result, Planning Department Director Ed Muire is requesting the Rowan County Board of Commissioners hold a public hearing on Oct. 5 to consider extending the moratorium further.

"This has turned out to be incredibly complex. The folks that are working on writing the rules, it's difficult to get them together because of COVID," said Rowan County Commissioner Judy Klusman. 

The board of commissioners has been meeting over Zoom video calls for several months. It has not been determined yet whether the public hearing would be conducted virtually or in person. The board of commissioners has allowed public hearings at its Zoom meetings in the past.

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