Voters at the annual Town Meeting approved a 180-day moratorium on commercial solar projects, a municipal budget totaling $952,023 and amendments that include one for shoreland zoning.

Auglaize County commissioners have started the hearing process for wind and solar exclusion zone maps, covering all of Auglaize County after a final resolution was received in support of such a zone from German Township...All 14 townships support exclusion zones.

According to the Sabin Center of Climate Change Law at Columbia University, in Wisconsin, four towns in Dane County (Deerfield, Dunn, Springfield, and Westport), have policies to restrict solar from agricultural land. Deerfield ordinance language: The Deerfield Board has determined that a license process is needed to protect the health and safety of the public regarding the installation and use of solar energy systems, consistent with the restrictions set forth under Wis. Stat. 66.0401(1m)...The siting of Systems on areas used for crop production is discouraged, particularly on Group 1 and II agricultural soils. In addition to proving food these areas also serve an important component of local agriculture and dairy farming.

A plan to provide solar power to a Western Slope rural electric cooperative ran aground last week when the Delta County Board of Commissioners rejected a zoning change for the 472-acre project, citing concerns over the loss of farmland in the county. The 80-megawatt solar project proposed by Guzman Energy would have supplied the Delta-Montrose Electric Association with electricity under a power purchase agreement. Guzman has a 12-year contract to provide DMEA with power.

Scottish ministers have refused planning permission for a 39-turbine windfarm in the Highlands' Monadhliath mountains. Simec Wind One Ltd had proposed installing the turbines on a site near Stronelairg Wind Farm, which was given planning consent in 2014.Concerns were raised about the visual impact on the surrounding mountain landscape and that birds such as golden eagles would be at risk of collisions with the turbine blades. The proposed height of the turbines was 135m (443ft) from the ground to blade tip. The Scottish government's decision follows a public inquiry into the project. In their decision, ministers said the wind farm would have a significant visual impact, and compromise the integrity of the nearby Cairngorms National Park.

The federal government has rejected a wind energy project that would have installed dozens of giant turbines in the Walker Ridge area. On Friday, the Bureau of Land Management said it has denied the application for the Walker Ridge Wind Energy Project. The agency said the denial was based on potential resource conflicts and the inadequacy of the information provided to the BLM to address these conflicts and to move forward with the environmental review.

After an onslaught of local opposition to the Meadow Forge solar project, aimed at the farm fields between Gaston and Matthews, Delaware County commissioners on Tuesday ordered a one-year moratorium on solar farm development...The crowd in the courtroom and the hallway for Tuesday morning's meeting broke into applause after the commissioners' unanimous vote in favor of the moratorium.

According to the Sabin Center of Climate Change Law at Columbia University, in Wisconsin, four towns in Dane County (Deerfield, Dunn, Springfield, and Westport), have policies to restrict solar from agricultural land. Specific language from Dunn ordinance: The purpose of this Ordinance is to require the operator of a proposed System to be located in the Town of Dunn to obtain a license from the Town prior to beginning construction activities in order to protect public health and safety, to minimize or prevent potential adverse off-site impacts from on-site and off-site operations, to protect the conversion of prime soils on agricultural lands to non-farm uses, and to promote the general welfare of the people and communities within the Town of Dunn. This ordinance is enacted to provide for Town review of proposed solar energy facilities and to ensure such facilities are properly installed and are sited in a manner that will protect the natural beauty of the Town and its prime agricultural resources

County Planning Board officials voted unanimously to deny a solar project in the town of Madrid during a recent planning board meeting. Officials heard a presentation regarding the proposed project from Acer Solar, who are acting on behalf of Cyprus Creek Renewables, who own the property. The 4.4 megawatt solar array proposed at 50 Cogswell Corners Rd. required a site plan review and special use permit due to the zoning of the property, officials say. The 102 acre parcel is listed as being in the agricultural district, according to county documents. In total, the array was expected to encompass roughly 30 acres of the 102 acre parcel, but soon drew the ire of the board after they were informed it was on prime and prime if drained agricultural land. “The Board's main concern with the project is that it is proposed on Prime and Prime if Drained agricultural land,” said Jason Pfotenhauer, Director of the St. Lawrence County Planning Office. Many critics of such projects cite the use of prime agricultural land for such projects as a primary concern, as local farmers need maximum acreage for an adequate crop yield.

The neighboring towns of Root and Canajoharie both passed moratoriums on solar farms this week, making them some of the latest Montgomery County towns to pump the brakes on large scale solar development. The moratoriums come as SunEast Development is in the very early stages of a 200-megawatt facility that would potentially sit on land in both towns, according to project manager Chet McLaughlin.