Industrial solar can now be built on some rural Fayette County land after the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council approved a revised ordinance Thursday.
The decision to allow solar rolls back a 2024 ban enacted following a request from developer Silicon Ranch. The company sought to amend the city’s zoning ordinance for a 797-acre solar farm in east Fayette County.
Instead, the request kickstarted a multi-year discussion among the council on where solar farms could be built countywide.
Thursday’s vote was a narrow victory for rural solar, passing 8 to 7. The revised proposal creates new restrictions out of a city work group, but allows large-and intermediate-scale solar farms on about 1,800 acres of the county’s rural land, or 1%.
The city’s planning commission previously recommended the council uphold the 2024 ban.
Those who support large-scale solar say it is necessary to meet Lexington’s net-zero carbon emissions goals. Those against the move argue the installments infringe on the city’s character and the development could degrade the area’s prime soils and streams.
Vice Mayor Dan Wu and council members Tyler Morton, Shayla Lynch, Emma Curtis, Liz Sheehan, Joseph Hale, Amy Beasley and Dave Sevigny carried the passing vote. Council members James Brown, Chuck Ellinger, Tom Eblen, Lisa Higgins-Hord, Whitney Elliott Baxter, Jennifer Reynolds and Hil Boone voted against the ordinance.
A 357-acre industrial solar project underway at the former Haley Pike landfill count toward the 1% cap, as well as a 387-acre solar farm in east Fayette County planned by East Kentucky Power Cooperative.
The Haley Pike landfill was leased from the city to Edelen Renewables for a solar farm earlier this year.
