2025-0390
INTRODUCED BY: HOLLY FONSECA, COUNCILWOMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION B
WALTER PILI?, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT III
MICHELLE O'DANIELS, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT V
RESOLUTION NO. __________
Title
A resolution opting out of state-level regulation of solar farms under Act 279 of the 2025 Regular Session of the Louisiana legislature.
Body
WHEREAS, Act 279 of the 2025 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature enacted Section 1, Chapter 12 of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and is codified at Louisiana R.S. 30:1131 through 1141 and 1145; and,
WHEREAS, Louisiana R.S. 30:1144 provides for state level regulation for the siting of Solar Power Generation Facilities, more commonly known as solar farms, effective after January 1, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, Louisiana R.S. 30:1142(B) allows any parish that has adopted solar ordinances to opt out of the state-law siting requirements, which would allow local ordinances to continue to govern solar farms; and,
WHEREAS, the St. Charles Parish Council has previously amended the St. Charles Zoning Ordinance of 1981, on March 13, 2023 with Ordinance No. 23-3-1 to provide for promotion and local regulation of Large Solar Energy Systems (LSES) and Small Solar Energy Systems (SSES); and,
WHEREAS, the Parish's Ordinance is more robust than the regulations provided for in the state statute and the interests of the parish are better served to retain local control over these projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL, finds that the continued local regulation of solar farms is in the best interest of the Parish.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy, as required by law, to effectuate this opt-out.
The foregoing resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the resolution was declared adopted this day of , 2025, ...
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