CAIRO — A proposed city ordinance that would ban ground-mounted solar panels in residential areas is making its way to the Cairo City Council.

Council members considered the proposed ordinance, which modifies existing ordinances to specify that ground-mounted solar energy systems will only be permitted in certain industrial and agricultural zones, last week. Council members say the ground-mounted systems, which the ordinance defines as solar energy systems that are “structurally mounted to the ground and (do) not qualify as an Integrated (solar energy system),” are too large and unsightly for residential areas.

Decommissioning of ground-mounted panels would begin no later than 12 months after it has ceased to generate energy.

Rooftop solar panels and integrated solar energy systems, which incorporate solar materials into building materials or use solar materials in place of traditional building components, would not be affected by the ordinance.

Solar canopies that do not qualify as integrated solar energy systems would be considered ground-mounted systems, regardless of where they are mounted.

If approved, the ordinance would go into effect September 1.