LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mayor Linda Gorton announced Friday that she will veto the Urban County Council's decision to allow industrial solar development on Fayette County farmland, saying the ordinance would set a dangerous precedent for future industrial uses on agricultural land.

The Urban County Council approved the ordinance in an 8-7 vote on September 10, which would have permitted large-scale solar facilities as a conditional use in agriculturally zoned areas, covering up to 1 percent of Fayette County, or nearly 2,000 acres. Gorton said in her veto statement that the ordinance would allow for the first industrial use of Fayette County farmland since 1958.

Gorton said in a statement that she appreciates the council's work on the issue but is concerned about the precedent. "However, in their commendable desire to support solar projects, Councilmembers unfortunately set a gigantic precedent, opening the door to industrial use of our farmland," she said. "It may seem like a small step today, but once that door is opened, it's hard to close."

The mayor emphasized her commitment to solar development while distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate locations. She pointed to specific projects she has initiated or funded, including the Haley Pike landfill solar project, which she described as "likely the largest solar project on a landfill in the country." The Gorton administration has invested nearly $2.7 million in solar projects citywide, including installations on fire stations and government buildings.

Both the Planning Commission and planning staff opposed the ordinance because it conflicts with the purpose of the agricultural zone, which is intended to preserve rural character and discourage urban development.

This is Gorton's second veto in her eight years as mayor. The council would need nine votes out of 15 to override the veto. The ordinance had been scheduled to take effect September 20.

The debate over industrial solar development stems from a 2024 ban enacted following a request from developer Silicon Ranch, which sought to amend the city's zoning ordinance for a 797-acre solar farm in east Fayette County. The request kickstarted a multi-year discussion among the council on where solar farms could be built countywide.

Supporters of the ordinance have maintained that large-scale solar is necessary to meet Lexington's net-zero carbon emissions goals, while opponents have argued that the development could degrade the area's prime soils and streams and infringe on the city's character.