Tippecanoe County, IN — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Active Moratorium — 1-yr ban on large-scale solar >10 acres, voted 3-0 Jun 2, 2025 (expires ~Jun 2026)

None codified. No county-specific setbacks adopted.

Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission (APC): CUP or Improvement Location Permit (ILP) in Agricultural district.

Mixed — Purdue research community vs agricultural landowner skepticism

BZA vote history; public hearing records

Stable

Local permit: Special Exception (SE) in A-1 Agricultural zoning via county Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA); some counties use two-step process (Plan Commission recommendation + BZA approval). BZA SE is the standard county-level pathway for all utility-scale solar. IURC CPCN: Indiana Code §8-1-8.5 — IURC Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity (Cause No.) required for generating facilities >80 MW; process runs parallel to county BZA SE and does not replace it. IURC approval does NOT override a county BZA denial except where federal jurisdiction applies (see Mammoth Solar / Pulaski County precedent, 2023). IC 36-7-4: Indiana Code §36-7-4 limits how restrictive county ordinances can be for solar; basis for developer preemption litigation against overly restrictive ordinances (Randolph County 2024 litigation pending). SB 411 (2022): Voluntary 'solar-ready county' designation for counties meeting solar-friendly siting standards. SB 390 (2023): $1/MWh financial incentive for solar-ready counties.

Indiana Renewable Energy law (IURC): no Renewable Portfolio Standard — Indiana repealed its RPS (HB 1271, effective 2023). Net metering: available for ≤1 MW retail customer generation (IURC regulated utilities); Indiana Michigan Power (AEP), Duke Energy Indiana, Vectren/CenterPoint, NIPSCO offer programs. IURC CPCN: required for generating facilities ≥80 MW. HEA 1381 (2022): counties retain siting authority for solar in unincorporated areas. No state cash incentive program for solar. Utility: Duke Energy Indiana serves central/eastern IN; NIPSCO (NiSource) serves NW IN (Cook/Lake/Porter); Indiana Michigan Power (AEP) serves northeastern IN; Vectren/CenterPoint serves SW IN; REMC cooperatives serve rural areas.

Multiple BZA special exceptions | 20-100 MW | 2019-2023 | NIPSCO territory. APPROVED: Multiple smaller projects approved pre-moratorium. DENIED: Rainbow Trout Solar (Hexagon Energy adjacent developer) | 120 MW | 1,700 acres | BZA DENIED 4-3 vote August 2025 amid neighbor pushback and renewable energy advocates' pleas. This was the project that triggered the June 2025 moratorium. Separate Hexagon Energy North Liberty project (St. Joseph County): 2,300-2,500 acres | 300 MW | Area Plan Commission hearing June 18 2024 with contentious public debate. Source: BasedInLafayette basedinlafayette.com Mar 2026 (1 week ago); Environment+Energy Leader Jun 17 2024

Rainbow Trout Solar Project (1,700 acres, BZA hearing) — county commissioners enacted 1-yr moratorium Jun 2025 amid growing opposition; project status uncertain