Coffey County commissioners will have several conversations about a proposed solar energy facility as part of their business Tuesday.
Questions and concerns about the proposed project from Hecate Energy will be mentioned as part of separate agenda items in the 9 am hour Tuesday morning. Coffey County Planning and Zoning Administrator Heidi Harris will then discuss a 17-page recommendation from the Planning Board for solar regulation, including items like a power purchase agreement, general approval requirements, decommissioning, land restoration and payments in lieu of taxes, after the County Commission’s lunch break.
Hecate is planning a one-gigawatt solar project, using photovoltaic panels that will follow the sun and thus generate enough renewable energy to power over 230,000 homes. The company says the development reflects $1 billion in private infrastructure improvements. Hecate also says the final project will be smaller than the roughly 8,500 acres involved in land leases, although the company hasn’t specified by how much.
Residents have voiced concerns about the location — between the Otter Creek water table and John Redmond Reservoir and also near the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge. Other concerns have included hail damage and toxic chemical release, electrical fires, home values and land prices, noise or light pollution, available land for hunting, economic impact due to the loss of agricultural land and property tax exemption policy.
The commission meeting begins at 9 am at the Coffey County Courthouse in Burlington. Harris’ presentation is at 1 pm.
*Click here for a link to the solar regulation proposal online.
