The Pipestone Planning Commission plans to review the city’s Energy Conversion System ordinance regarding wind and solar installations, such as the one in Pipestone, and those of other cities and counties to see if any changes are recommended to the city’s ordinance. A lack of clarity in the existing ordinance regarding solar installations was cited as a reason for the study. File Photo

The pipe stone The Planning Commission plans to review the Energy Conversion Systems Ordinance regarding wind and solar energy facilities and similar ordinances used by other cities or counties to see if any changes should be made to the city’s ordinance.

Planning Commission members and city staff discussed the topic during the commission’s July 10 meeting. The discussion followed the Pipestone City Council’s July 1 passage of an interim ordinance authorizing a study by the Planning Commission and placing a moratorium on the creation, construction or expansion of renewable energy facilities within the city to allow the Planning Commission time to conduct the study. The moratorium will remain in effect for one year, until rescinded by the City Council or until the effective date of an updated ordinance.

“Everything is on hold until we can go through the ordinance to make changes that are appropriate after reviewing the ordinance and what is best for the city of Pipestone,” said Solomon Derby, Pipestone Department of Building and Planning Officer.

Derby said the language about solar facilities in the existing ordinance, which was adopted in 2021, seemed contradictory, lacking specificity and missing information, making it difficult for him to answer questions when people called about solar. He said that was the reason for the ordinance revision.

During the meeting, discussions were held on solar energy for businesses and homes, the question of whether solar gardens may be created in specific zoning plans and the regulations for solar panels on roofs and on the ground.

While solar energy is the primary reason for revising the existing ordinance, Derby said changes could also be made to the portion of the ordinance that addresses wind energy. He said he had not received any questions about wind energy within the city limits and that the only wind tower he could think of in the city was the one that had been at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS). Mayor Dan Delaney, who serves on the planning commission as the city council’s liaison, said he did not think wind energy systems were feasible within the city limits.

Derby said the planning commission could also consider energy conversion systems other than wind and solar when reviewing the ordinance.

Delaney asked if there had been any recent requests for energy conversion systems. Derby said no one had applied recently, but he had received questions about what was allowed. Assistant City Manager/Clerk Stephanie LaBrune told the Planning Commission that there had been interest in installing a solar array where the wind tower at PAS had been, so the commission may not want to drag out the review process too long.

“I think the goal would be to get it done as quickly as possible,” LaBrune said.

The Planning Commission plans to continue discussion on this topic at its August meeting once it has received some sample ordinances.