A planned 2,300 acre solar energy project that would spread across different tracts of Barren County farmland has drawn concern from residents.

The problem is that county government can’t stop the project since there are essentially no applicable zoning regulations within the county.

“Barren County does not have land use restrictions, or in other words, zoning,” Planning and Zoning head Kevin Myatt told the Daily News. “There is no dictation of property on the use. The only thing we can regulate are setbacks and subdivision regulations, by law.”

The solar project is known as Wood Duck Solar, and is being pushed by Geenex, a Charlotte, North Carolina,-based solar energy company. Geenex currently operates solar farms across North Carolina, along with some farms in Virginia and one in Ohio, according to its website.

Wood Duck is the only solar farm Geenex has under development in Kentucky. According to Wood Duck’s page, the project will generate 100 megawatts of electricity once completed, enough to power 15,000 homes.

Geenex is expected to invest $130 million into the project, a video shared online states. Wood Duck is predicted to bring 323 new jobs to the county and could generate tax revenues of up to $387,000 each year for up to 40 years.

The video also states that $15.1 million would come to local jurisdictions, of which $11 million would go to local school districts.

A document from the citizens group Advocates for Farm Preservation was shared with the Daily News. Listed in it are concerns over what an influx of solar panels would do to the county’s aesthetics and resources.

“We believe this development is detrimental to our agricultural lands, our natural resources of Barren River Lake and Mammoth Cave National Park and many species of animals, mammals, birds, flowers and grasses that adorn our beautiful countryside,” the document states.

The group also says the project would not reduce energy costs for Barren Countians and will lead to reduced property values and increased safety hazards.

Additionally, the group states that solar panels “are not recyclable and are not accepted at landfills” once their operational lives are finished.

A variance was applied for by the company in December 2023. Myatt said the company asked for “zero lot lines” to be allowed for the solar panels, which means they could be constructed on or very close to property lines.

The variance was approved and Myatt said a presentation will be made to the Kentucky Public Service Commission, a body that oversees utility services across the state. According to planning commission records, the 2,334.61-acre project will sit on the north and south sides of the Cumberland Parkway.

Myatt said the project will be handled at the state level.

“Unless the magistrates create an ordinance for land use in the county, we can’t supersede them,” Myatt said. “We can’t just create an ordinance on our own, So we have to wait for the legislative body to tell us they want this or they want that.”

Even if a land use ordinance was passed it would not stop the solar project, Myatt said, since it would be considered grandfathered in. As for why there is no zoning in the county, Myatt said it comes down to a simple reason.

“Up until the last few years, our magistrates have not deemed it a necessary issue,” he said. “Until the magistrates of the county deem it worthy to start holding talks about having zoning in the county, it’s a dead issue.”

Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd told the Daily News she has had talks with landowners who would have solar panels installed on their land.

“I’ve talked to the property owners, and they’re excited,” she said. “They get to keep the family farm (and) they’re going to make more money doing it this way.”

She added that she has received some phone calls about the issue and one person sent her a letter. She said while property owners who have panels coming are excited, those who do not are less enthusiastic.

She said the county has added in additional fees that will apply to inspections of the project. Additionally, those who have panels installed will pay tax rates for commercial property. She said while this is a downside to having the panels built, it will mean more revenue for the county and local school systems.

Even though any changes in county zoning would not affect this project, Bewley Byrd thinks this project may open the door for conversations about county land use. Locally though, it’s a done deal.

“We can’t stop it at the local level at all,” she said. “What I did feel like this one project will do (is) help kind of push that need for planning and something in the county. But this project itself is already in motion.”

The Daily News reached out to Geenex for comment but did not receive comment in time for publication.