Last week, the Portage County Commissioners held a hearing leading up to a decision on whether or not to pass a resolution banning large wind and solar projects across multiple townships. 

Senate Bill 52 created this process, and gives county commissioners across the state the ability to create “exclusion zones” where large-scale solar and wind cannot be sited. This has led many counties to pursuing such a ban as a way to “preserve farmland.” 

But at what cost? In the name of “preserving prime farmland” we see farmers and land owners face restrictions on their property rights. People who do not work the land are attempting to decide how the land should be used. This takes away landowners’ and farmers’ ability to make the decision that is best for their farms, their families, and their futures.

At the Portage county hearing, only one community member spoke in favor of the ban, in a room of nearly 60 people. At their April 2 meeting, the County Commissioners passed a resolution affirming that future projects will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

That means, at least for now, there is no ban or exclusion zone going into effect in Portage County. That means landowners, farmers, and communities retain the freedom to decide what’s right for their own property.