In the ongoing battle between Oriden—the company looking to construct a solar panel project in northern Christian County—and members of the Dogwood Community, a public hearing was held Monday evening.
The public hearing was to allow for members of the Kentucky Electric Generation and Transmission Siting Board and the Public Service Commission to hear directly from community members, and it was held right here in Christian County, instead of in Frankfort as is standard. The project first came to light in 2022 when Christian Fiscal Court approved a resolution supporting the project, but that resolution was rescinded after hearing input from community members.
Since then, ordinances have been passed establishing set-backs and other regulations in relation to both this project and any other solar projects in the county—a lawsuit filed by Oriden against the original ordinance that has since been repealed and replaced was dismissed in Christian Civil Court this January.
Now Oriden is looking to move forward with some version of the project slated for the Dogwood Community, and the majority of those giving public comments Monday were very much against it. One of those was Senator Whitney Westerfield, who says that the methods the company have taken to establish the project were questionable and the vast majority of those who call the area home have made it very clear the project is not wanted there.
Brian Burkehead says when other landowners’ rights infringe on his own rights, that’s when those rights end. He also says this project has brought great strain on the community.
Marby Schlegel says its not that landowners who are part of the project want to take something away—they actually want to add resources to the community.
Officials with the Commission clarified that this meeting was just for gathering public comments, and they certainly have a lot to consider.
Casey Richardson of Ohio County represented carpenters millwrights in the region and said that many laborers are for the project, as it would create jobs both during construction of the panels and during their decommission further down the road.
Another hearing on the matter will be held on February 7 at 1 p.m. at the Public Service Commission in Frankfort, where public comments will again be welcome. Comments can also be made in writing and emailed to psc.comment@ky.gov, using case number 2023-00246 in the subject line.