By Aaron Mudd, CivicLex · July 12, 2026 During its July 9th meeting, Lexington's Planning Commission unanimously recommended against allowing large-scale ground-mounted solar energy systems in agricultural zones. The recommendation comes after Council asked the body to review proposed changes to Le xington's solar energy systems zoning ordinance and hold a public hearing. Among the changes under review was a proposal to allow large-scale solar energy systems – defined as having a footprint greater than 5 acres – as a conditional use within Agricultural-Rural (A-R) and Agricultural-Urban (A-U) zones. 🧠 What is a conditional use?Under Lexington's Zoning Ordinance, a conditional use is an approved exception to the regular rules of the zone a property is in. The Board of Adjustment reviews and grants requests for conditional use permits. In recent years, whether to allow solar projects on agricultural land has been a hot topic of debate for the Council. Lexington updated its solar regulations in 2025. In March, the Council approved a lease agreement allowing a solar energy project at the Haley Pike Landfill to move forward, a decision Council had delayed multiple times. The Tennessee-based company Silicon Ranch is proposing a local project to blend agriculture with solar energy production. Kentucky's Public Service Commission, which regulates the state's utility companies, has also approved a large-scale project from East Kentucky Power Cooperative that isn't subject to the Council's review. Supporters of the changes regulating large-scale solar projects on agricultural land say that they're needed to help support Lexington's goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and that rooftop solar alone won't cut it. Local regulations could also help inform state regulators reviewing utility-scale solar projects here, supporters say. Opponents, on the other hand, say Lexington's net-zero goal shouldn't come at the expense of its farmland, which they often describe as a tourism draw and economic boon for Fayette County. What would the proposed changes allow? Changes to Lexington's solar regulations proposed by a Council work group earlier this year would require large-scale solar projects on traditionally agricultural land to maintain agricultural production subject to annual inspections, along with land conservation and water quality plans. Applicants can also choose to enter optional Community Benefits Plans for low-income energy bill relief, and there are stricter clean-up requirements when solar energy systems are decommissioned. Additionally, the changes propose allowing ground-mounted solar energy systems that are entirely within "brownfields," such as contaminated land, landfills and mine sites. When the changes reached the Planning Commission for its July 9th review, it sided with a recommendation from the city's Planning staff. That recommendation advised removing "all references to allowing ground mounted solar energy systems within the agricultural zones." Some other proposed provisions, such as the exception for brownfields, were left untouched. "The Bluegrass Region has been recognized as one of America’s most distinctive," the staff recommendation reads in part. "The introduction of solar energy systems that constitute large land coverage, disturb the soil, and remove land from typical agricultural production within this unique environment poses a threat to the community’s identity and economy." You can read the full report and recommendation from Planning staff below: PLN-ZOTA-26-00004 AMENDMENT TO SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS – report + alt text Read the full Planning staff report outlining its recommendation here. PLN-ZOTA-26-00004 AMENDMENT TO SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS – report + alt text.pdf 309 KB download-circle What's next? Ultimately, as Lexington's legislative branch, the Urban County Council will have the final say in whether the proposed zoning ordinance changes are adopted. The changes will return to Council for review during its August 18th Work Session, at which point it will determine how to proceed. 🫵 How can you get involved?Take the survey on Engage Lexington's Solar Energy page. You can also contact your Councilmember to share your views on this topic. Find them at this link. Sources CivicLex View in feeds The post Planning Commission advises against large-scale solar on Lexington farmland. What’s next? appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less