# 10/29/2026 Bannock County Planning and Development Council

Bannock County Planning and Development Council held a public hearing on October 29, 2026, on the proposed Land Use and Development Ordinance. Testimony addressed Chapter 7’s rules for utility-scale solar and wind facilities and battery energy storage, including property rights, agricultural land, fire safety, environmental effects, setbacks, decommissioning, and local tax benefits. Council members also reviewed and discussed edits to other ordinance chapters, including subdivision standards and utility installations. No contracts, vendor selections, or other procurement activity were identified.

The Council voted 5–0 to recommend approval of the ordinance to the Board of County Commissioners, subject to corrections and modifications discussed at the meeting. For Chapter 7, the recommendation calls for consideration of size restrictions based on agricultural zoning and land use, while noting that the Council lacked sufficient data to set a maximum; it also requests justification for allowing battery storage with solar in some zones while prohibiting standalone systems in all zones, and more detailed battery-storage provisions in the ordinance. The Council discussed increasing setbacks for energy facilities near residences. The Commissioners will make the final decision at a future date.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 29, 2026

### Sources
- [10/29/2026 Bannock County Planning and Development Council](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oztNYcjwO4) - Bannock County