A Washington Parish moratorium on solar projects was extended Monday evening by the Parish Council in a 6-1 vote.
The moratorium will remain extended until the Parish Council has completed work on an ordinance that will regulate solar projects in the parish.
The solar projects have become an issue of contention, especially for residents west of Franklinton along Highway 16 and in the Sunlight Road area.
One solar project is already operating on property owned by the LSU Experment Station on Highway 16. Nearby residents complain that the project is an eyesore. In addition to the visual issues, residents also have expressed concerns about the two projects’ impact on wildlife, erosion and whether the solar panels would be loosened and become a danger in the event of a hurricane.
A second project has been proposed to be built next year in the area of Sunlight Road.
Developers of the Washington Parish solar projects have vowed to plant thick bamboo borders around the two projects to shield them somewhat from the eyesight of nearby residents.
Residents in the area of the existing project and the proposed project want the Parish Council to develop a strong ordinance that would strongly regulate solar projects in Washington Parish.
