Blackford County APC Member Requests Wind and Solar Moratorium; Commissioners Decline

From the Blackford County Commissioner meeting on May 4, 2026

Area Plan Commission member Cara Armstrong formally asked commissioners to place a moratorium on new wind and solar project approvals until the county's ongoing ordinance review is completed and updated rules are officially adopted.

Armstrong told commissioners that the APC and a committee established by Commissioner John Lancaster have invested "considerable time and effort" reviewing and updating current wind and solar ordinances. Approving new projects before that review wraps up "would unintentionally diminish the value of time, effort, and careful work already contributed," she argued.

The moratorium would apply only to projects that have not yet submitted applications to the APC and Board of County Adjustments — not to RWE or EDF's 245-megawatt Lake Trout solar project, which are already in the review pipeline.

A second resident also urged commissioners to enact a moratorium, citing "discrepancies" in project documents.

Commissioner Dan Borgenheimer declined to hold a vote, stating, "I appreciate that but I'm not going to."

The request follows a series of tightened controls on wind and solar projects adopted earlier this year.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Commissioner Meeting, May 4, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.