Residents Voice Concerns Over Proposed Solar Panel Development in Tippecanoe County
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) — Several residents attended a public information meeting at the Convergence Center in West Lafayette to voice their concerns over a proposed solar panel development in Tippecanoe County. The Rainbow Trout Solar Project is slated for Shelby Township and is being presented by Geenex Solar, the company behind the project.
According to the developers, the project will span a total of 1,700 acres, though within the estimated fence boundary, it will occupy about 900 acres.
Susan White, a resident near the proposed property, raised concerns about the impact of the solar farm on the beauty of the area, stating, “We don’t want to lose the beauty that we have out there. There are a lot of other places they could put a solar farm, we don’t want it to ruin the nature that’s out there. We don’t know what’s going to happen to the environment out there. We don’t know what’s going to happen to our property values out there.”
Geenex Solar, however, maintains that the project would provide significant benefits to the local community. According to the company, the development will supply energy to 20,000 homes and create new job opportunities in the area. The company also estimates that the project would contribute about $31 million in taxes to the community over the next 42 years.
The developers argue that the project will not have a negative environmental impact. They contend that the concerns raised by the community—specifically regarding leaching and water runoff—are unfounded.
Mark Schuler explained, “Some people are worried about things leaching into the soil and ruining the soil. Runoff onto their land and causing a flood. We take care of all of that. The leaching thing is a myth, that’s not real. For the runoff, we have more regulations on us than any farmer does on how we manage our water supply.”
However, Brodie Terpstra, a local resident, feels that the area is not ready for such a large-scale development. “We’re just not ready for this style of solar, really anywhere but especially in our area where it’s completely unnecessary because we have usable farm ground. Very highly rated worldwide top soil. To take that away doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
The decision to permit this project will ultimately be made by the Tippecanoe County Board of Zoning Appeals, with plans to break ground by 2026.
Have a story? Let Us Know Here
Watch more on WLFI wherever you are
With so many ways to find us streaming, it’s easy to get the latest content from WLFI. You can find us on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms so you can watch us anytime. Enjoy live streaming newscasts or replays of our latest news along with the areas only local weather forecast and sports.