Scotts Bluff County is closer to having a new set of regulations guiding the development of solar energy facilities following a public hearing Monday.
The new 17-page document is much more detailed and robust than the current regulations in place when a California-based company sought a conditional use permit for a utility-scale project southwest of Scottsbluff and Gering a year ago.
Attorney Phil Kelly said for one thing, the language would require a company wanting to build such a facility to hold a public forum before their application, with a published notice to the public and nearby landowners.
“Everybody within or who has adjoining land within two miles is going to get a letter, so they get an opportunity to find out about the project before the application is filed, so that there’s information and transparency about what what the plan will be,” said Kelly. “They must then provide that information to the county when they make their application. What are the results or what information was was made available at the public forum, and what were the concerns addressed in the public forum.”
Reginald Preston of Gering told the Board while there were some additional tweaks needed, it would be better than the process in place a year ago. “We’ve been through the public meetings, we’ve been through the public hearings, both with this board, (and) the Planning and Zoning Board, and now we’ve even got legal counsel on behalf of the county that we were completely lacking when all of this started last winter,” remarked Preston, who noted there were certain items sought in the draft document that would have to take place after a conditional use permit was approved. “We’ll get through the rest of it. I’m sure there’ll be some more comments, but it feels like we’ve got a fairly concise set of rules that everyone’s getting a chance to weigh in on that hopefully will allow for a level playing field for you five (commissioners), and all of the five who shall follow behind you, to have a chance to regulate this.”
Morrill County Commissioner Jeff Metz thanked his Scotts Bluff County counterparts, saying he’s always looking for as much development as possible. Metz noted the zoning regulations for his county probably number less than 17 pages in total, and as they currently stand would be nowhere near as cumbersome for Dunlieh Energy.
“They’ve met with landowners in Morrill County. They won’t have the trouble in Morrill County that they’re having here,” said Metz. “Maybe it’s a different…. You know, we got way more cows than we’ve got people, and that’s a good thing for me. But I understand what you’re doing and you’re in a tough spot. I don’t think it was made any easier with with the way things were handled.”
The proposed regulations will come up for a vote at a future board meeting.
