Monmouth board extends local approval for solar project pending state permits

The Monmouth Planning Board voted June 11 to extend a local approval for a solar project owned by KBEC County MESI LLC, doing business as Soul America Energy, but made the extension contingent on the company first obtaining outstanding state permits.

Chrissy Lee Ramsey, who identified herself as the project's lead developer for Soul America Energy, told the board the company's NERPA PBR and stormwater permits had expired after a federal permitting change and a temporary freeze delayed filing. "We are resubmitting our NERPA storm water permit next week. We anticipate to have full approval again in the next week," Ramsey said.

Board members discussed conditioning the extension on receipt of those approvals. The motion to extend the local approval passed after members cast votes and an abstention was recorded; the board noted the extension would expire on November 16, 2027 unless the company failed to obtain the required state or federal permits.

Planning staff said they would follow up with the applicant in writing to document the standard condition that local approval is subject to non‑local permits. The board did not change other original conditions attached to the 2024 approval.