how this could affect you...

YOU ARE a local landowner with a 300-acre farm.  

Under Senate Bill 931, a solar developer could apply to place a large-scale solar energy facility on land next door - potentially covering dozens of acres with solar panels.  

EVEN IF the project doesn't align with local zoning, preservation efforts or community input, the state could force local officials to approve it if the project meets board state-level requirements.

1.  Decreased Property Value:  Your view could be permanently altered by industrial solar arrays and fencing.  This reduces the land's value, especially if it's used for agri-tourism, hunting, or wildlife habitat.

2.  Agricultural Disruption:  If the panels alter water runoff or disrupt pollinator pathways, it could impact crop health or soil conditions on neighboring farmland.

3.  Loss of Local Voice:  Even if the farmer objects to the location, scale, or design of the project, local officials may be powerless to intervene - because SB931 removes their authority to deny or meaningfully condition the project.

4.  No Siting Flexibility:  If the state rules the site meets its minimum criteria, the project moves forward.  The farmer's desire to preserve the area's open rural character, protect historic viewsheds, or maintain a buffer from high-voltage infrastructure could be dismissed.