Sedgwick County Commissioners will vote Wednesday on alternative regulations proposed for commercial and utility-based solar projects. The regulations, if approved, could end a proposed Chisholm Trail Solar Energy Center, a 750-acre solar project between Colwich and Maize by Chicago-based renewable energy company Invenergy. More specifically, the proposed regulations would prohibit projects in urban areas of influence — urban land where utility-based solar projects are not permitted — and require projects to be no more than 1,280 acres. “If the county enacts this particular ban, our Chisholm Trail Solar Energy Center project will lose the opportunity to submit a Conditional Use Permit application,” Meredith Abdou, vice president of Renewable Generation at Invenergy said. Abdou said all three quality points of interconnection for utility solar projects in the county are located either in or around urban areas of influence. “Enacting this requirement would seriously hamper the county’s efforts to attract utility-scale solar development because these projects must be sited near points of interconnection to deliver their power to the electrical grid,” she said. The Invenergy project has drawn strong reactions from clean energy advocates and fast-growing communities in the area. “Every county must balance the interests of growing communities and landowners’ private property rights,” Kansas Power Alliance’s Josh Svaty said.”Sedgwick County has historically created a collaborative environment where business development interests and community interests are blended, and we would hope that environment would continue.”
Source: Wichita Business Journal
