'Neighbor versus neighbor': Solar development splits Knox County

KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) — Solar development is rapidly expanding across Knox County, but along with it, so are tensions between neighbors.

What some see as an economic opportunity, others view with skepticism, raising concerns about transparency, property impacts, and how decisions are being made.

“It is dividing the community,” said Knox County Commissioner President TJ Brink. “It’s neighbor versus neighbor… those who have signed the lease versus those who have not.”

A growing divide

At the center of the debate are large-scale solar projects being proposed and developed across the county. For some landowners, leasing property for solar offers long-term financial stability. For others, especially those living nearby, the changes feel uncertain and, at times, out of their control.

Part of that uncertainty, residents say, comes from what they don’t know.

Lease agreements between landowners and solar companies are not public. In some many, additional agreements, known as “Good Neighbor Agreements” are offered to nearby residents, often including financial compensation.

In a “Good Neighbor Agreement” provided to the station, a neighboring landowner was offered $2,000 annually for the duration of the solar farm project, which are often between 30 and 50 years. Along with the money neighbors are bound to not:

“directly or indirectly, interfere with or seek to delay the development, permitting, construction, or operation of the Project or any activities related to or affiliated with the Project and Owner will not join or encourage any opposition to the development, construction, or operation of Project or any activities related to or affiliated with the Project.”

But critics say those agreements, along with confidentiality clauses, are contributing to a sense of mistrust.

“You don’t really know until it’s too late,” said Tommy Merydith, president of the Knox County Coalition for Safe Solar. “You don’t find out until an installation is already in your back door.”

Why some projects feel secretive

Concerns about transparency are common, but solar developers say there’s a reason projects can seem to appear suddenly.

Shanelle Montana, Chief Development Officer for Arevon, a solar development company, said the process behind the scenes can take years and not every project makes it to construction.

“We’re constantly trying to balance between sharing information… but not giving false hope,” Montana said. “There are a number of projects in development that may not ever come to fruition.”

According to Montana, multiple factors, including land agreements, environmental studies, and grid connections, must align before a project becomes viable.

“It takes so many factors… and those can take years to come together before we even know we have a viable project,” she said.

That timeline, she explained, can make it seem like projects move quickly once they become public—but in reality, they’ve often been in development for years.

Understanding ‘good neighbor agreements’

One of the more controversial aspects of the debate is the use of “good neighbor agreements.”

Montana described those agreements as part of a broader effort to include nearby residents, not exclude them.

“We really take a community-first approach,” she said. “We’re not just focused on our landowners… we’re looking holistically at the community.”

She said the agreements are voluntary and are meant to provide benefits to those living near a project.

“No one is ever forced to participate,” Montana said. “It’s something we are proactively offering.”

Still, some agreements include language that limits legal action or public opposition—something that has raised concerns among residents.

Montana said confidentiality clauses in lease agreements are standard in many industries, not just solar.

“A lot of those provisions are very standard… not just in the solar industry… but throughout any commercial transaction,” she said.

Limited visibility for local leaders

Even county officials say they don’t know who has signed agreements.

“We have no idea who has signed a lease and who has not,” Brink said. “That’s a private contractual agreement.”

That lack of visibility can make it difficult for both leaders and residents to fully understand the scope of a project until it’s already moving forward.

At the same time, Brink emphasized that landowners do have the legal right to lease their property, something the county must consider when crafting policy.

Shifting focus to what can be controlled

With many aspects of solar development happening through private agreements, county leaders are focusing on what they can regulate primarily, how projects are built and how close they are to homes.

One of the biggest points of contention is setback distance.

The Knox County Coalition for Safe Solar is pushing for a 750-foot setback between solar installations and homes, arguing it provides better protection for residents.

“Our ideal setback is 750 feet,” Meredith said. “That’s what we believe protects families.”

County officials, however, are considering a smaller increase.

Current ordinances require about 200 feet. State guidance sits around 250 feet, and county leaders are now discussing a potential increase to 300 feet.

“State law currently states about 250 foot… we’re looking at doing 300 foot,” Brink said. “We want to safeguard the community.”

The challenge, Brink said, is balancing the rights of landowners who want to lease their land with the concerns of those living nearby.

What happens next

As solar development continues to expand, the debate in Knox County shows no signs of slowing down.

For some, it’s about economic opportunity and adapting to changing energy demands. For others, it’s about protecting farmland, property values, and quality of life.

And for many, it’s about trust, between neighbors, companies, and local government.

All parties are now encouraging the public to get involved.

Arevon encourages people to visit their website, arevonenergy.com, to learn more about their solar developments and measures they take to ensure each project is done correctly and provides the most benefit to the land owners and neighbors around their projects.

The Knox County Coalition for Safe Solar is holding a meeting Saturday March 28, at the Knox County Fairgrounds to bring residents together and discuss concerns surrounding solar development. For more information about the meeting and the coalition visit their Facebook at Knox County Coalition for Safe Solar.

County commissioners are also expected to take the next step on proposed setback changes at their April 7 meeting, where both residents and developers will have the opportunity to weigh in.

As those meetings approach, the decisions made, and the voices heard, could shape not just the future of solar energy in Knox County, but the relationships within the community itself.