Coffey County commissioners will not allow construction of solar energy facilities until 2027.
Commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesday to approve a three-year prohibition of so-called commercial solar conversion systems. Don Meats and Steve McCurry voted in favor, while Jesse Knight voted against. That vote followed a 2-1 decision to table the Coffey County Planning Board’s proposed 17-page package of recommendations so the county could develop a comprehensive plan with more information about solar facilities and a provision about renewable energy. Meats and McCurry voted in favor, with Knight voting against.
Commissioners Tom Hugunin and Wayde Thomson did not vote. Hugunin was absent and Thomsen disqualified himself from the related votes because he has property leased to Hecate Energy, the proposed developer.
Hecate had planned 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 planned development reflects $1 billion in private infrastructure improvements. Hecate also says the final project would be smaller than the roughly 8,500 acres involved in land leases.
Comments from commissioners involved in the vote and Hecate are pending.
