A draft of a ordinance regulating solar projects in the parish was sent on for consideration to the full Washington Parish Council during a meeting of the council’s Infrastructure Committee this past Thursday evening.
Committee members Councilmen Rusty Fornea, Councilwoman Kim Wagner, and Councilman Joe Culpepper were joined at the meeting by two other members of the Parish Council, Carley King and Reginald McMasters. Also present as a spectator was state Sen. Beth Mizell.
Speaking for Washington Parish Concerned Citizens was spokesman Wilson LaGraize.
LaGraize and many of the members of his organization live near the existing solar project on Highway 16 at the LSU Experimental Farm and also near the proposed solar project on Sunlight Road.
After the meeting, LaGraize said he felt like the Infrastructure Committee listened carefully to his organization’s concerns and proposals, and included some of them in the draft ordinance that was sent on to the full Parish Council.
He said the Concerned Citizens organization was pleased to hear that the parish council hired an environmental law firm to write solar energy regulations. Parish Attorney Wayne Kuhn said at the meeting that the parish council will submit the Concerned Citizens’ prepared regulations and comments along with the Infrastructure Committee’s findings to the environmental attorneys, for study and possible inclusion in the solar ordinance to be taken up by the full Parish Council.
But during the meeting LaGraize pointed out that some of the Concerned Citizens’ concerns were not included in the committee’s findings.
He said the group wants an independent NEPA environmental study to identify positive and negative effects on Washington Parish’s environment resulting from the solar projects.
After the meeting, LaGraize said, “While the committee referred to other points, they did not say why the study was left out of their findings.”
LaGraize’s group also asked for periodic environmental monitoring by an independent expert to enforce Washington Parish’s solar regulations but it was also left out of the draft ordinance, he said.
The Infrastructure Committee suggested the Louisiana state Department of Environmental Quality but the Concerned Citizens group wants regular Washington Parish monitoring.
In addition, LaGraize said the Concerned Citizens organization believes that the parish alone must select all independent experts to enforce solar regulations for the protection of Washington Parish and all of its citizens.
Also during the meeting, Tammy Fucich of Sylvest Road expressed her concern on how fast a solar ordinance seems to be proceeding. She urged the committee to takes its time and proceed carefully.
She asked the Infrastructure Committee "to please do all the research and make sure to protect us now and for the future with regulations."
Mrs. Fucich also discussed MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) which is an independent, not for profit, member-based organization responsible for operating the power grid across 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. She said Washington Parish is in the middle of this main grid line.
"Without MISO, there would be no solar farms in our parish. This is our Public Service Commission, where are they?”
She added, “We do not need to give away anything, because without us, it won't happen. Without this parish saying yes, you can come in here, they have nothing. As a parish government, we need to look out for our citizens in this parish. We could have a brand-new jail, libraries and so much potential. I am not saying solar is bad, but it is coming, and we must understand what type of ordinance is needed with rules and regulations to protect this parish and its citizens. I say no to tax exemption, because we have a good opportunity here and we need to move on it."
Jennifer Brown, a resident of Hwy 16, said she is working with NAS (National Agriculture Statistics) which prepares estimates and reports on production supply, price, chemical use, and other items necessary for the orderly operation of the U.S. agricultural economy.
"Our regional director will be providing numbers for us to see how much agricultural is here in this parish, as well as compare it to the number of acres that are already in solar farms as it exists today. This can help us make better decisions on how many acres we can put into solar panels in our parish.”
Mrs. Brown also questioned if local fire departments are prepared or trained to fight fires at soloar projects.
Councilman Culpepper responded, "Chief Crain of Fire District 1 is now in the process of getting training on this issue with Baton Rouge. This is in the works now."
Senator Mizell asked the committee what the timetable would be on enacting the proposed solar ordinance.
Councilman Fornea, the committee chairman, said, “ "If the council votes Monday to retain the attorney, I guess two weeks depending on how long it will take them. Once it comes to the council and we review their changes through discussion, then it will go before the council as an introduction at one meeting with a public hearing at the following meeting, then the council will vote. No limit on the amount of time the environmental lawyers need to review. This attorney is highly qualified and one of the best you will find in the country and hopefully the council will hire this attorney. There will be no action taken on this proposed draft until after it comes back from the attorney."
John Stevens is a resident of Highway 16. He lives near the solar project at the LSU Experimental Farm. He told the committee, "I have the property that is taking in all of the overflow from the first solar project that is going through my property. How many of you asked your citizens in your district that you represent how they feel about a solar plant in their area? You need to realize, whatever you put in place, that is what we are going to be governed by. We need to think about this very hard and how it will affect people now and inj the future."
Councilman Culpepper then made a motion to move the rough draft on to the full Parish Council. Councilwoman Wagner seconded the motion and it was approved, with Councilman Fornea joining Culpepper’s and Wagner’s yes votes.
