Public sounds off on proposed 3,000-acre solar farm in York County

YORK, Neb. (KLKN) — Dozens of people in York County sat down Monday night to hear from the county’s zoning board.

The members went over a few things on the agenda, but what drew most people there is the K-Junction Solar Project.

The project is a plan to put up solar panels near McCool Junction.

The solar farm would span nearly 3,000 acres and provide power to 60,000 homes.

SEE ALSO: 3,000-acre solar farm planned in York County has residents charged up

Representatives of the Omaha Public Power District, the group proposing the project, said it will pave a positive path.

“York County is ready for transformational changes,” said Dustin Marvel with OPPD. “We can do that by partnering with renewable energy and our precision farming. What that does is drive precision agricultural forward.”

But a few locals who spoke at the meeting felt differently and aren’t pleased with how the process has gone.

“Transparency, we’ve had none,” Gene Jackson said. “None of our questions have been answered.”

The board is reviewing preliminary regulations for solar projects.

They would require this farm to be more than 100 feet away from public roads and at least 660 feet from residential properties, unless those property owners sign an agreement with OPPD.

No action was taken Monday night, so the board will have more to review and discuss before the next scheduled meeting in December.