Dozens testify regarding solar zoning regulations in York County; vote expected this morning

​YORK – The York County Courthouse was a busy place Monday night as people held signs outside, protesting large solar farms on York County farmland, while the commissioners’ meeting room completely filled for a public hearing on the matter. The crowd became so large, the overflow was directed to the meeting room in the courthouse basement, where the live stream of the meeting could be seen and attendees were still invited to come upstairs to testify. 

​The hearing was before the county board as well as the county’s planning and zoning committee, as officials prepare to take a final vote on solar project zoning regulations which have been carved out over the past four years.
This contentious topic carries a lot of steam because the Omaha Public Power District has intended to build a large solar project in the rural McCool area, on land which is currently being used to grow corn and soybeans. While the proposed project is front and center during the debate, the commissioners continue to point out these new zoning regulations pertain to the whole county, not just the Hays Precinct and the southwest corner of York County.
The most debated portion of the solar zoning regulations is that addressing setbacks – the distances industrial arrays must be away from non-participating dwellings and properties. Right now, as the zoning draft sits, the setbacks for non-participating dwellings is ½ of a mile.
OPPD officials say this distance is too much and inherently prohibits projects such as theirs from even existing at all.
A number of York County residents say the half-mile setbacks are exactly what is needed, to protect the nearly 30 rural acreages where non-participating people live (in the area of the proposed K Junction Solar project).
There have also been concerns raised by York County residents regarding heat coming off large solar projects and how that affects nearby crop production; how the soil and water might be affected should there be a catastrophic storm or even from erosion and run-off; how a large solar project will be decommissioned; and much more.
During the Monday night hearing, one landowner acknowledged he has signed on, to allow his land to be used by OPPD for their proposed solar project. He argued he has the right to use his land in the way he sees fit and he’s disheartened by the wedge this topic has driven between community members.
The members of the planning and zoning committee told the commissioners they remain in favor of the half-mile setbacks for non-participating dwellings and feels the setbacks for schools should be the same (this distance was minimized by the county board during an earlier vote).
More from Monday night’s public hearing will be published in installments.
The county commissioners will take up the matter this morning – Tuesday, April 28 – as they are expected to take a final vote on the proposed zoning.