Public hearing held on 1-megawatt solar project in Elm Township; county will vote in two weeks

The Gage County Board of Supervisors heard public testimony Oct. 30 on a proposed Class 2 commercial solar conversion system to be built on land owned by Jeffrey Hayes in Elm Township. Planning staff told the board the project meets the county’s solar regulations and that the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended the application 7–0.

Jerry Ince, engineering manager for Norris Public Power District, described the installation as roughly a 1-megawatt AC array of about 2,500 panels using single-axis trackers. "We were able to lease about 10 acres from the landowner," Ince said, adding that Norris has experience with similar 1-MW sites in Lancaster and Saline counties. He told the board Norris would buy the kilowatt-hours produced and can lock in a rate for customers over long-term contract terms. He also said Norris would serve as a financial backstop for decommissioning if needed.

Landowner Jeffrey Hayes, who told the board he has been willing to host the array, said he has driven past other installations and does not consider the panels an "eyesore" for the broader area. "I'm just willing to give it a try," Hayes said.

Planning staff and board members addressed construction-phase issues such as road use, setbacks and preconstruction surveys, and confirmed that required setbacks from public roads are measured from the center line. Several board members asked that final construction and berm/visual mitigation plans be submitted for review before the board takes a final vote.

Several neighbors raised concerns about how the right-of-way and section-line surveys will be completed. Planning staff and the applicant said a preconstruction survey will resolve precise locations and address any road impacts.

The project developer (TPI, noted as an Arkansas-based nonprofit cooperative affiliate) was not present; Norris will act as the local power partner. Because the county hearing was informational today, the supervisors did not take final action and moved the item to be considered at the regular meeting in two weeks.

If approved at that later date, the project would be governed by the county’s solar rules, include decommissioning assurances, and be subject to any construction agreements required by Elm Township and the county.