Lexington council moves forward solar ban on county farmland
The Lexington council moved forward solar regulations that would ban large-scale solar farms on agricultural farmland.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted unanimously during a Tuesday work session to move forward the zone text amendment that outlines what types of solar can go where. The vote came after a meeting lasting longer than three hours, where more than 25 people spoke for or against allowing solar in agricultural areas, in what has become a key fight over where solar should go.
Along with the ban, the council also made several changes to a proposed zone text amendment that would limit large-scale solar installations to 1% of land in the agriculture zone, which would be about 1,800 acres. That guideline is for state officials who oversee public utilities.
The council also amended the local solar rules to require a land management plan every five years that includes soil conditions and periodic review of soil conditions. The new rules would also require ground cover for any solar farms.
Those rule will be sent to the Public Service Commission, which regulates public utilities that don’t need local sign-offs.
Councilman David Sevigny, who had proposed allowing large, ground-mounted solar on agricultural land, but limiting it to just 2% of Fayette County’s farm land, said during Tuesday’s council work session he did not have eight council votes needed to get the compromise through the council.
The council is developing a work group to dive deeper into the complex rules and guidelines surrounding solar, which will have solar and agricultural officials on it, coucil members said.
A final council vote on the controversial ZOTA is expected is expected Sept. 11.
Councilwoman Liz Sheehan, who also backed the 2% cap on solar on agriculture land, said the Public Service Commission, which has oversight over public utilities, has signaled if a county has a cap on the amount of ground-mounted solar, it would follow it.
The Public Service Commission has already approved a nearly 400-acre solar farm proposed by East Kentucky Power along Interstate 64 and Winchester Road.
The city is also exploring putting solar on the closed Haley Pike landfill, which is also 400 acres. That land is not zoned agricultural.
800-acre solar farm proposed in Eastern Fayette County
Silicon Ranch, a Nashville-based solar company, proposed the zone text amendment in 2024 to allow solar on agriculture land. The company wants to put a solar farm on 800-acres in Eastern Fayette County.
Currently, the city’s zoning is silent on where solar can be located.
The Urban County Planning Commission, which also has a say on zone text amendments, voted in September 2024 to allow solar in many residential and business zones but ultimately opted not to allow large-scale solar on agriculture land.
The council’s General Government and Planning Committee narrowly voted in July to approve the planning commission’s recommendations banning industrial solar on farmland.
If the solar text amendment is passed, Silicon Ranch will not be able to pursue its solar farm in Fayette County.
More alternative energy sources needed, farmland should be protected
Sevigny has argued the city needed to expand its alternative energy sources. It can not do that without allowing some solar on land currently zoned agriculture. The city’s comprehensive plan, which guides development, has a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, many who spoke in favor of allowing some solar on agriculture land said the city needed more alternative energy sources. It can not solely rely on solar inside the city’s urban service boundary or growth boundary to generate the amount of solar energy the city needs.
Climate change is real, many argued. The time to cut greenhouse gases and emissions was yesterday, they said.
“Climate change, if left unchecked, will also affect our soil quality,” said Judith Humble, of the Bluegrass Climate Action Team.
Blake Spurgeon, a manger of public relations for Silicon Ranch, said the group has met with stakeholders and the community multiple times over the past several months. Adding solar to farmland can be done responsibly and help the agriculture community.
A Garrard County Silicon Ranch operation employs two people who Silicon Ranch pays to run sheep on the property. That’s a win for that sheep farmer who did not have money to buy land for his sheep herd, Spurgeon said.
“Fayette County can be a leader,” Spurgeon said.
Those who oppose solar on farmland said it’s not known if installing solar damages topsoil. Fayette County has some of the richest and fertile farmland in the country.
Moreover, Silicon Ranch is backed by Shell Corporation, which owns a 43% stake in Silicon Ranch, according to its website.
Brittany Roethemeier of the Fayette Alliance said it’s also not clear if out-of-state companies like Silicon Ranch would keep that solar energy in Fayette County. Many solar operations have only been in existence for less than 20 years, and it’s not clear how those large-scale solar farms affect soil quality.
The solar industry is new and regulators are having a difficult time policing the industry when there are problems, often having to take cases to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Roethemeier said, and asked if that’s a mistake Fayette County can afford to make with its farmland.
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 10:59 AM.
