LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Solar Work Group meeting held June 9 focused on proposed amendments to Lexington's zoning ordinance governing solar energy systems, with Council Member Liz Sheehan presenting language crafted by four council members and planning staff after six months of intensive review.

The work group, consisting of Sheehan, Council Members Dave Sevigny, Tyler Morton and Hil Boone, has been tasked with refining regulations for large-scale solar installations outside the urban service area, particularly on agricultural land. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a goal outlined in the comprehensive plan Imagine Lexington 2045.

Sheehan explained that the current ordinance permits rooftop and integrated solar systems in all zones, small-scale ground-mounted solar in residential zones with conditional permits, and intermediate-scale installations on up to five acres in business and industrial zones. Large-scale solar, defined as anything exceeding five acres, is currently allowed in business and industrial zones.

For agricultural zones, the ordinance includes a 1 percent cap on large-scale solar—approximately 1,827 acres of Fayette County's total acreage—along with requirements for 85 percent vegetative ground cover and land management plans submitted to the city.

The work group's proposed amendments include new provisions requiring continuous agricultural production on solar properties in ag zones, compliance with stormwater standards, and hazard assessments for battery storage systems. The amendments also define farmland of statewide importance and prime farmland, with a new pathway allowing solar development on brownfield properties.

Sheehan emphasized that Lexington's Solarized program launched in 2023 has installed 128 residential systems through June 2026, including 84 grant-funded installations for low and moderate-income households. She noted this falls short of what would be needed to match a single large-scale solar farm, reinforcing the need for diverse approaches to meet renewable energy goals.

The work group met with numerous stakeholders including Kentucky Utilities, the Kentucky Resources Council, the American Farmland Trust, and the Fayette County Conservation District. In March, the General Government and Planning Committee voted 6-4 to send the proposed changes to the Rural Land Management Board, Environmental Commission, and Planning Commission for feedback.