by Dennis Dalman
The results of a community-wide survey about solar-power installations in Sartell will be discussed at a public hearing at the next city council meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23.
There were 11 questions on the survey, which was taken online by 664 residents. The last day to participate in the survey was Sept. 29. The survey debuted in late summer.
The purpose of the survey is to get public input what residents think about solar-power installations within the city limits, including large-sized solar gardens.
After analyzing survey results and hearing from residents, the city staff will fine-tune a city solar-garden ordinance for potential approval by the council.
Survey question number one asked, “I believe, with specific restrictions, that solar gardens should be allowed in the following districts . . .” Here are the percentages of responses from the 644 survey participants:
Agricultural areas: 73.9 percent.
Rural Residential areas: 44.28 percent.
Single-family residential areas: 19.43 percent.
Multi-family residential areas: 20.3 percent.
Business districts: 36.64 percent.
Medical districts: 30.57 percent.
Industrial districts: 76.51 percent.
For all 11 questions and the answers to them, visit the City of Sartell website at www.sartellmn.com. That site also gives information about the long efforts to draft a solar-garden ordinance that could be acceptable to all involved with solar-energy efforts within the city.
This is an example of a solar garden, which is a constellation of rows of solar panels that transfer the sun’s energy into electricity.
