White County, IN — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

≥150 ft from outer wall of nonparticipating landowner dwelling (Chapter 7, updated 2021). Buffer waivable at 250 ft by nonparticipating landowner consent.

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

Supportive / revenue-focused

County incentive framing; BZA vote history

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Indiana Renewable Energy law (IURC): no Renewable Portfolio Standard — Indiana repealed its RPS (HB 1271, effective 2023).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.

Indiana Crossroads Solar (NIPSCO / NextEra Energy Resources) | 200 MW / ~1,600 acres | IURC Cause No. 44981 Approved 2020 | Operational 2022–2023 — White County; first of NIPSCO's 'Generation Transition Plan' solar fleet; activated alongside Dunns Bridge I as NIPSCO's 465 MW combined July 2023 announcement Cavalry Energy Center (NIPSCO / NextEra) | 200 MW solar + 45 MW / 60 MWh BESS | White County | IURC Approved | Operational 2024 — NIPSCO Renewable Energy Rider (RERC) project Additional BZA special exceptions | 20–80 MW | 2019–2024 | White County BZA applies SE standards consistently; one of Indiana's most solar-active NIPSCO-territory counties

No confirmed denials on record as of Mar 2026.