York County Commissioners adopt zoning rules for 3,000-acre solar farm
YORK, Neb. (KLKN) — It was standing room only inside the York County Courthouse on Tuesday as commissioners discussed zoning regulations for a 3,000-acre solar farm.
Community testimony lasted almost two hours as dozens voiced their concerns about the impact of the solar panels on the land.
“How do you know the long-term impacts when a majority of these facilities are new?” said Hunter Johnson, a York County resident. “Are you so sure that solar is safe that you’re willing to bet the health and safety of my family for the next 30 years?”
SEE ALSO: York County Commissioners revisit 3,000-acre solar farm zoning rules
After several long years of discussion, the zoning regulations were finally set.
Commissioners voted to set a half-mile distance from the solar farm for any homeowner who is not a willing partner in the project.
That’s 2,640 feet.
Some say this move makes it even harder, if not impossible, to build the solar farm.
“You know how unpredictable and unforgiving our weather can be,” said Jim Edmundson, who lives in York County. “Not only tornadoes, but we also get huge gusts of wind, hail, and all kinds of storms. All kinds of conditions that could easily damage solar panels, and possibly make that risk a reality. No matter what your setbacks are, 3,000 acres is a lot of solar panels. It’s going to be almost impossible to carefully monitor them.”
SEE ALSO: York County Board adopts zoning rules that make it harder to build large solar farms
Other setbacks include 660 feet from any church or school, 330 feet from cemeteries, 660 feet from state recreational areas and 2,640 feet from platted subdivisions.
Representatives from the Omaha Public Power District sat through the meeting and now have to adjust the project.
“Today’s discussion gives us a lot to take away, and we have to evaluate, as every meeting does,” said Dustin Marvel, the Government & Community Relations Manager at OPPD. “I know there’s some discussion around putting all of what was agreed upon today into a document, so our project team is going to have to evaluate our final conversation and see what that has toward implications for the prospective project we’re trying to build.”
County commissioners are inviting the public to another hearing on April 27 to voice any additional concerns before the Planning and Zoning Board.
SEE ALSO: Public sounds off on proposed 3,000-acre solar farm in York County
