Author Archives Laura Arnold

Post-Tribune (IN) EDITORIAL: Solar farms are short on details

Reprinted at: http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&subsectionID=306&articleID=64030

2/18/2012 12:37:00 PM

Post-Tribune Original article: http://posttrib.suntimes.com/opinions/10640914-474/solar-farms-are-short-on-details.html

Why Ecos Renewable Energy isn’t being more forthcoming with information about a series of proposed solar panel farms in Lake and Porter counties seems a bit of a mystery. None of the four would-be local farms — proposed for Hobart, Merrillville, and Portage and Union townships in Porter County — is in a sensitive area, and at least the first areas appear to be welcoming the plants with open arms.Only the Union Township site received any negative feedback, as some neighbors in the area had concerns about noise and property value effects, leading the Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals to turn down the plan. Officials elsewhere have been happy about the investment in their communities.

Yet, Ecos, a Minnesota-based company, won’t discuss its local plans, nor others they may be developing here or around the state. According to a Northern Indiana Public Service Co. spokesman, Ecos has made “quite a few” proposals to the utility, which would buy the energy the plants produce.

Alternative energy projects have attracted much attention in recent years, as traditional fuels become more expensive and pollution has become a greater concern. Although wind power has some critics, negative stories have been minimal on solar power, which has improved over the years enough that even areas such as Indiana, which aren’t that sunny, can produce power from the sun.

These proposed solar plants seem like a good thing, and they should be built. It would be easier to support them, though, if their builders would tell us that in their own words.

Porter County (IN) nixes one solar farm, delays decision on second

Posted by Laura Arnold / March 05, 2012 / Posted in Feed-in Tariffs (FiT), Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), Uncategorized / No Comments

Dear Blog Readers:Sorry that I missed this story last month. I will look to find a more current update on these proposed solar projects in Porter County.

Laura Ann Arnold

Reprinted from http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&subsectionID=306&articleID=63816

2/3/2012 12:56:00 PM

Amy Lavalley, Post-Tribune Correspondent
VALPARAISO — The Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals nixed a solar farm planned for Union Township and continued a decision on a second in Portage Township, pending information on landscaping on the site and the zoning of nearby land.The decisions, on the first solar farms in the county, came at a Wednesday public hearing on the matter, during which several Union Township landowners expressed concern about noise and property values. The plan for Portage Township garnered some support, though a resident of a nearby subdivision was unhappy with the proposal for the same reasons as the people in Union Township.The similar plans – the Portage Township solar farm is slightly larger – call for solar panels on 11 acres on each site. Energy collected at them would be sold to Northern Indiana Public Service Co.Representatives from Minnesota-based Ecos Energy said they are serving as development consultants for private investors. Ecos also is involved with plans for solar farms in Hobart and Merrillville.

The BZA voted down the Union Township site, south of Ind. 130 at 495 W. County Road 450 North, with a 4-1 vote. The Portage Township proposal is on the southwest corner of Robbins Road and North County Road 450 West, just outside the city limits.

The Portage Township site is zoned for light industrial, while the Union Township plan was for land zoned rural residential/light industrial, causing consternation for nearby neighbors.

“I cannot see how this is going to improve my property values,” said Bill Tharp, who lives cross the street. “I do not understand why we would ever want to do this, especially in a residential area.”

Chris Little, director of development for Ecos, and Brad Wilson, the company’s project manager, said a solar farm was a better use for the land for neighbors than a warehouse or other facility that would generate heavy traffic or emissions.

That wasn’t enough to sway the board.

“I think it’s a good project. Renewable energy, everyone’s for that. I don’t think it’s the right property,” board member Rick Burns said. “I think it’s a good idea. I don’t think it’s the right location.”

Little and Young said that, through their pending agreement with NIPSCO, the solar farms must be located at the selected sites.

“If we move the project, the project dies,” Little said.

Hobart (IN) Board of Zoning Appeals approves city’s first solar panel business

Posted by Laura Arnold / March 05, 2012 / Posted in Feed-in Tariffs (FiT), Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), Uncategorized / No Comments

By Deborah Laverty deborah.laverty@nwi.com, (219) 762-1397, ext. 2223 nwitimes.com

Posted: Thursday, March 1, 2012 11:00 pm

HOBART | The Board of Zoning Appeals said yes Wednesday to Hobart's first solar generating plant.

The board unanimously approved a conditional use petition after a public hearing where a few residents asked questions but offered no negative feedback.

Hobart Solar LLC, a Minnesota-based company, plans to erect 4,576 solar panels on about 10 acres of a 50-acre parcel one-fourth mile from the northwest corner of Liverpool Road and 49th Avenue, petitioner Brad Wilson said.

The project, which could be built as early as this summer, would consist of modules — they would collect solar rays that would be converted to energy — and an equipment pad.

The entire project would be enclosed with a fence, Wilson said.

Environmentalist Sandy O'Brien, a Hobart resident, asked that the project be placed toward the front of the property, near 49th Avenue, away from an Indiana Department of Natural Resources managed nature preserve.

"I hope this is a win, win for Hobart," O'Brien said.

Wilson said the intent is to place the project closer to 49th Avenue but the exact location will be determined at a future Plan Commission meeting.

The City Council at its meeting Feb. 15 set the stage for the public hearing by approving a new renewable energy ordinance for the city, City Planner A.J. Bytnar said.

That ordinance spells out regulations for future businesses such as the proposed solar generating plant on 49th Avenue, Bytnar said.

The Plan Commission on Feb. 2 agreed to give Hobart Solar LLC a favorable recommendation to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The project will now go back before the Plan Commission for site plan review, Bytnar said.

If Hobart officials approve the plans, the solar power project would be the second of two planned for the area by the company, which also goes by Lincoln Solar LLC.

The Merrillville Town Council in late January unanimously approved a variance allowing Lincoln Solar LLC to erect 6,800 solar panels to produce electricity, which would be sold to NIPSCO.

Abound Solar CEO: ‘Unfair Competition’ Hurting Company; Says Chinese solar companies selling below cost

Posted by Laura Arnold / March 01, 2012 / Posted in Uncategorized / 1 Comments

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=52459

updated: 3/1/2012 8:57:26 AM

Andy Ober, InsideINdianaBusiness.com

Witsoe says U.S. companies must develop new technology to compete globally.

The chief executive officer of Abound Solar says Chinese solar technology companies selling products below cost are hurting operations in Indiana and Colorado. Craig Witsoe says Asian companies are driving down prices to the point that American businesses can't compete. Despite recent layoffs in Colorado, Witsoe says Abound Solar is still committed to expanding operations in Tipton, and hopes to do so by late 2013.

Witsoe says some lawmakers are in favor of imposing tariffs on Chinese solar products. He says if that happens, competition will become level and the company could add employees sooner.

Abound Solar announced a temporary reduction of approximately 180 jobs in Colorado as part of a transition to its next generation solar modules.

The company announced plans in 2010 for more than 800 jobs in Tipton County.

Source: About Solar, Inside INdiana Business

Will Indiana lawmakers give solar PV a property tax exemption in 2012?

Posted by Laura Arnold / February 29, 2012 / Posted in Uncategorized / No Comments

Indiana state lawmakers are entering the final days of the 2012 Indiana General Assembly. The short session which occurs in even-numbered years must adjourn by March 14^th by state law but there is an agreement to adjourn early by Friday, March 9^th.

The Indiana State Senate just passed HB 1072 with little more than 5 minutes of debate on third reading or final passage. Sen. Brandt Hershman said shortly after noon today "This is a grab bag tax bill". He also stated "This bill is going to conference."

For the first time on the floor of the Indiana Senate, Hershman stated that "the solar power deduction is in it". He had indicated that a large portion of SB 344 had been amended into HB 1072 but in response to a question from Sen. Hume Hershman indicated that the previous controversial language concerning a tax credit for the Indiana Gasification LLC or coal gasification project at Rockport was not in the bill.

HB 1072 passed third reading in the Indiana Senate by a vote of 47-3. The bill now returns to its House author Rep. Jeff Espich. Earlier in the House Ways and means Committee, Espich who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee and is the House sponsor of SB 344 removed the solar photovoltaic (pv) property tax exemption language on 2/22/2012.

SB 344 is now on the House Second Reading Calendar where 31 proposed amendments have been filed, however, none of the proposed amendments would restore the solar pv property tax exemption language.

The House has recessed for lunch and caucus meetings. They are scheduled to reconvene at 2:30 pm today (2/29/2012) to address bills on second reading or eligible for amendments including SB 344.

More detailed information on this issue and the legislation enacted last year changing the property tax exemption for wind devices will be posted soon.