Solar Resources Library

Title	Short Description
American Clean Power Snapshot 2024	Report released on March 5, 2025 by the American Clean Power Association. This is a one-page snapshot. View press release with more details at https://cleanpower.org/news/market-report-2024-snapshot/,
Six Key Trends in Sustainable Energy in America 2025	Published by the Business Council on Sustainable Energy, the 2025 Factbook demonstrates that energy efficiency, natural gas, and renewable energy are the growth sectors of the U.S. energy economy.
2024 US solar panel & solar cell imports by country	The U.S. imported 13.89 GW of silicon cells in 2024, with only 490 kW of solar cells imported directly from China. The country imported 54.3 GW of finished panels in 2024, with 621.4 MW from Mexico; 122.8 MW from Canada; and only 8.3 MW of panels from China.
Key Findings from Indiana Energy Issues Survey	The latest statewide survey (2/23) in Indiana shows widespread, growing and bipartisan support for renewable energy and, specifically, solar farm development across Indiana.
Proponents say energy will save legacy	An article from KPC Media reporting on why a local farmer wants to participate in a utility scale solar project.
Tax base, not taxes	Editorial by Steve Garbacz, KPC Media, explaining the impact of a large capital project, such as a $300M solar project, on Noble County. The article explains how increased tax revenues impact taxes.
Solar Energy Products & Property Taxes	A March 2023 article published by KPC Media, written by Larry Deboer, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University. Contact: ldeboer@purdue.edu.
Southern Pike Economic Impact Analysis	A full analysis of the economic impact, prepared by Impact DataSource LLC, Austin, TX, of the Southern Pike Solar project for Noble County, Indiana.
Southern Pike Info Graphic	Infographic summary of the economic impact of the Southern Pike Solar project on Noble County, Indiana.
Energy Crossroads Dealing With Surging Needs - Cover Story	August 2024 issue of BizVoice magazine of the Indiana Chamber Chamber of Commerce features the related cover story.
Dolphin Solar Impact Analysis	An impact analysis prepared by Baker Tilly for Fountain County, Indiana for a 450MW commercial solar energy project.
The Economic Impact of Utility-Scale Solar in Noble County	A summary analysis prepared by Be Noble Inc. (Noble County LEDO) in July 2022.
Property Rights and Clean Energy	Fact sheet summary with graphics concerning acreage use to fuel, and more.
American Clean Power - Indiana	An Indiana Clean Energy Fact Sheet, published by American Clean Power.
Indiana Electricity Projections: The 2023 Forecast	A report prepared by the State Utility Forecasting Group, Discovery Park, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana in December 2023.
Economic Effects of the Changing Energy Mix in Indiana	An executive summary by Michael Hicks, PhD, Center for Business and Economic Research Miller College of Business, Ball State University updated August 4, 2020.
Executive Summary - NEER Solar Energy Projects in Indiana	A Purdue University summary concerning nine commercial solar energy projects across Indiana over a three-year period.
The Impact of the Bottlebrush Solar Energy, LLC Project	An economic impact study report by Baker Tilly for Pulaski County, Indiana, concerning a 1,500-acre commercial solar energy project representing a $290M investment.
Northeast Indiana Food & Agriculture Cluster Strategy	A March 2021 publication prepared by TEConomy Partners LLC for the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership outlines the challenges and strategic opportunities for the food and agriculture sector in the region.
Sifting through solar: Land Use Concerns on Prime Farmland	A report by Alex Delworth, Center for Rural Affairs, published in May 2024.
33 False Claims about Solar, Wind, and EV	Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine, Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, April 2024 (revised October 2024). Dozens of sources cited.
Balancing Ag & Solar	A report published by the North Carolina Clean Energy Center.
Health & Safety Report	Health and safety report published by the North Carolina Clean Energy Center.
Solar and Property Values	A review of key property value studies published by Frasier Solar, citing four key studies conducted between 2018 and 2023.
Property Value Impact Analysis	Adjacent property value solar impact study based on nine existing solar farms in Illinois and Indiana. Published March 20, 2018.

Local Contacts

Stakeholders across all of Noble County are encouraged to advocate for the development of American-made, renewable energy locally by taking any or all of these actions:

Send a letter

Sign a petition

Join FB group

Noble County Commissioners:

Noble County Plan Commission:

Website (upcoming meetings, agendas, meeting minutes, commercial solar energy system regulations)
planning@nobleco.gov

Noble County's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) may be found here.

Participants of the Noble for Solar Facebook Group will see updates and invitations to upcoming public hearings, project information events, and more. Join us to stay in touch!

Background

In May 2021, elected and appointed officials in Noble County, Indiana, provided the first opportunity for members of the public to provide input on solar requirements to create an ordinance for the development of commercial solar energy systems (utility-scale solar projects) in unincorporated portions of the county. Developers of such large-scale "solar farms" have targeted Noble County because of the expanse of suitable land and proximity to overhead, high-power transmission lines needed to add supplemental energy to the power grid that serves here and across Northeast Indiana.

From 2021 into early 2025, more than a dozen, advertised public hearings were hosted by the Noble County Plan Commission and Noble County Commissioners to receive public input to guide the development of Noble County's Commercial Solar Energy System development guidelines. These measures include language in the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and a new Solar Overlay land use tool that ensures land remains zoned as "agricultural." For nearly four years, a plethora of research by many parties has unearthed data and facts about solar technologies, the use of farmland, agrivoltaics (an innovative approach that combines agriculture and solar energy production on the same land), and economic considerations associated with commercial solar development. Countless other communities across the nation are using commercial "solar farms" to provide American-made, renewable, supplemental energy to help meet the growing demands for electricity (largely due to artificial intelligence tech) and make up for the mandated closure of coal-fired power plants, including more than a dozen in Indiana alone. These projects are made possible by the voluntary and willing participation of landowners.

On February 10, 2025, the Noble County Commissioners, after initiating a proposal to place a one-year moratorium during which no solar project applications would be received, voted 2-1 against the measure. This final vote means developers may now submit project applications to develop commercial solar energy systems in Noble County. The vote was framed as one to stop any further escalations of discourse within the community. It came in the wake of two alleged incidents of verbal assaults and a threat of physical violence made by residents opposed to commercial solar development against an individual who supports solar development in Noble County.

At this time, no further alterations are proposed for the UDO and related, commercial solar development regulations. The current language may be found here.