Teal, next time: Solar companies ‘rallying the troops’ ahead of moratorium vote

With Tippecanoe County commissioners on the cusp of a pause on utility-scale solar, Geenex breaks out a shade of support, says it’s been through this before.

(Photo: Unsplash)

Facing a bigger vote June 25, when plans for a 1,700-acre solar project will be up for Board of Zoning Appeals approval it needs to operate in western Tippecanoe County, the companies behind the Rainbow Trout Solar Project apparently are looking to make statement Monday when county commissioners consider a moratorium on future utility-scale solar.

Tippecanoe County commissioners voted 3-0 on June 2, offering initial approval for a one-year pause on large-scale solar projects so the county can reconsider zoning codes written just four years ago.

A second and final vote, scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, is all-but assured to go through, given commissioners’ sentiment two weeks ago.

Still, this week, Geenex Power and RWE Clean Energy – the firms proposing the Rainbow Trout Solar Project, with more than 1,000 acres of solar panels proposed on 1,700 acres – took out ads and started encouraging people to wear teal shirts to Monday’s commissioners meeting to show support for large-scale solar.

The tactic follows a similar one donned by dozens of residents living between Division Road and Montmorenci, who have been coming to county meetings wearing red shirts, bandannas and other apparel to show opposition to the proposed 35-year solar project.