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Proposed solar farm honors Sen. George Norris
McCOOK, Neb. — Drive north on U.S. 83 out of McCook on a hot summer day and you may notice Nebraska Public Power District’s turbine “peaking unit” working hard to supply electricity to farmers’ center-pivot irrigation systems and town-dwellers’ air conditioners.
A Grand Island company is making plans to use the same sunshine that generates summertime heat to take over some of the work of that fuel-oil-powered facility.
Jeff Cook-Coyle of Premier Energy told the Gazette what may eventually be a thousand-acre solar plant near McCook would help provide the “green energy” NPPD needs to supply a plant in eastern Nebraska that will turn natural gas into fertilizer and carbon black used in tire production.
The company hopes to submit a conditional use permit to county zoning officials later this month, with phased construction beginning at least a year away.
While the project, named after pioneer public power proponent Sen. George Norris, won’t require rezoning agricultural land, the plan requires assurance the county won’t lose property tax revenue for the 3,000 acres involved — about 1,000 acres of single-axis sun-tracking solar panels, and the rest remaining farmland or pasture land northwest of McCook.
Recent Inflation Reduction Act legislation makes the project more attractive to NPPD, Cook-Coyle said.
He provided the following list of questions and answers regarding the project:
Frequently Asked Questions
How does solar energy generation work?
As light hits the solar panels, the solar energy is converted into direct current (DC) electricity.
The direct current flows from the panels into power inverters and is converted into altering current (AC) electricity, which is suitable for use by homes and businesses.
The AC electricity from the power inverters is collected using cables and delivered to a central electrical substation, where it passes through a power transformer.
The electricity travels through transformers, and the voltage is boosted for delivery onto the transmission lines.
Clean, renewable, Nebraska-made solar electricity is delivered to homes and businesses.
Will it have flashing lights?
No, thankfully no flashing lights! Wind turbines have them for aircraft safety. That is not an issue with solar panels.
What kind of sounds will it make?
The inverters out in the field, and the “PCS” at the battery both make a whine. Premier Energy commits that this sound will be less than 45 dB at peoples’ houses, which is low enough to keep from being a health, safety, and public welfare issue.
During construction, there will be normal construction noise plus the pile drivers.
Will it be loud?
Premier Energy commits that this sound will be less than 45 dB at peoples’ houses, which is low enough to keep from being a health, safety, and public welfare issue. The pile driving during construction will be loud. We will work with neighbors during construction to keep them informed, as well as to take reasonable mitigation measures.
Will it scare away wildlife?
No. The biologists that we are working with tell us that the project could attract wildlife, since we intend to plant shortgrass prairie plantings throughout the project area.
What will the construction process be like?
At the end of the last growing season, short-grass prairie seeds will be drilled throughout the Project Area.
Heavy construction equipment will perform land grading and clearing, and the fence will be erected. Grading requirements for the solar arrays should be minimal. Grading will be required for the substation and energy storage system.
Next, the buried electrical systems will be placed in trenches (which will be refilled).
Then, the piles will be driven.
With the piles in place, the solar arrays will be installed (racking and panels), along with inverters and transformers.
Everything gets connected and commissioned, and we are generating.
What will it look like?
The project will look like CRP land; with a fence around it, then a 30-foot fire break inside the fence, plus the solar arrays.
How much mowing will be required?
We will need to mow and do weed control until the shortgrass prairie grasses get established, which will take 2-3 years. Beyond that, mowing and weed control requirements should be limited to roads and the firebreaks.
What kind of fencing will it have?
The fencing will probably be chain link, with barbed wire on the top. Some parts of the project may have “doggie door”-like gates to let animals pass through.
Some solar farms have wooden fences that also let wildlife through. The downside for that type of fence here is the fire risk.
Are you concerned about fires?
Yes. Wildland fires are one of our biggest concerns. We are working with the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department on fire protection, prevention, and mitigation. We want to keep any outside fire out of the project, and contain any fire that starts within the Project inside the fence.
The most important measures for us, besides the steel fence, are a 30 foot clear zone within the Project fence; and keeping vegetation low and away from all electrical cables and other components.
Can you use the solar farm for farming, along with the solar?
Yes, for example sheep grazing is compatible with solar. We are exploring this with local ranchers.
Why is the map splotchy-looking?
Within the project boundary, some landowners wanted to participate and some did not. We are happy with both situations.
How close can it be to a house?
Premier Energy is asking, as a condition of the Project, that no panels be within 500 feet of a house. We believe that this distance protects the health, safety, and public welfare of the community. We are also, voluntarily, keeping the Project 1,000 feet from houses in cases where it would be very prominent in the home’s viewshed.
Will it reduce property values?
A market impact analysis study conducted for Linn County, Iowa, is available at https://www.linncountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19271/Market-Impact-Analysis. As a part of this analysis, 51 county assessors were contacted in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, North Carolina, and Maryland. These counties were contacted because they all have solar energy production facilities. Uniformly, they report, “there was no market evidence to support a negative impact upon residential property values as a result of the development of and the proximity to a solar farm, and that there were no reductions in assess valuations.”
Will it create traffic?
Not much once it is operational. There will be very little Project-related traffic; inspections of the fences, driving to the various panel locations; that’s about it. It shouldn’t be a big draw for people coming to look at it. The panels track the sun over the course of the day, like a field of sunflowers. This will not be a public health, safety, and welfare issue.
During construction there will be additional traffic. Although the construction period is only a matter of months per phase, it will require heavy equipment, including bulldozers, graders, trenching machines, concrete trucks, flatbed trucks and large cranes.
Will it be visible from the highways?
The site is about two miles from both US 6/34 and US 83. It is far enough from them that it will not be visible from the highways but close enough to have good access.
How will solar work with the existing power plant?
The existing power plant is owned by Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD). We expect that NPPD will own the solar plant when it is operational as well. It will then be their decision as to which plant (solar or fuel oil) runs and at which time. We see the solar plant as reinforcing the existing plant, rather than replacing it. When conditions are such that the solar plant and energy storage system cannot deliver energy, the fuel oil plant will be available to deliver energy.
Where is the nearest project like this?
There is a 50 MW solar project north of Wellington, Colorado that is built to operate in conjunction with a coal-fired power plant, the Rawhide Energy Station.
A 40 MW solar plant is expected to be built near Sidney.
When will the project be built?
We don’t have an answer to this question. It depends on how long it takes to come to an agreement with NPPD, and how they want the project to be delivered to them. The soonest would be construction starting in late 2023. It could take as long as six years to get it all built.
Will the Project be built all at once?
That depends on what NPPD wants to do.
What will happen at the end of the Project’s life?
By the county’s ordinance. A solar project that stops operating for twelve months will be considered discontinued and will need to be removed from operation within twelve months after that.
We propose that a bond be put in place, in the name of the landowner, as a condition of the Conditional Use Permit.
What will happen to the equipment at that point?
There is a fair amount of valuable material that will be collected and recycled, including precious metals like silver in the solar panels, copper and aluminum cabling, etc. The value of these materials far exceeds the cost of removing the system, in fact.
Solar isn’t efficient and reliable. It only works when the sun is out.
It’s true that solar energy is not generated at night, but even on cloudy days, some solar energy is generated (about 40% of maximum output). Premier Energy is planning to utilize energy storage with this project, so that energy can be output even between sundown and sunup. With all four phases operating, the plant will produce over 75% of the maximum generation that it could, on a 24/7/365 basis.
Will the Project make our electricity more expensive?
Solar energy today is cheaper than most forms of fossil-fuel-generated electricity, without batteries. If you add batteries, it is about 50% more expensive than coal-fired electricity. But keep in mind that solar energy has no fuel cost. Its cost will not go up over time. That is not true for fossil-fueled energy, which is highly dependent on the cost of the fuel. Coal and natural gas are not becoming more plentiful, so there is every reason to expect their price to rise over the life of the project.
Where will the electricity go?
While NPPD would buy the power plant to produce green hydrogen in eastern Nebraska, physically, the energy generated would likely stay local to power NPPD’s McCook operations, McCook Public Power District, and Southwest Public Power District.
How many jobs will be created?
We estimate that one permanent job will be created per phase, with an additional manager once all four phases are operational.
How will this benefit our community?
McCook and Red Willow County will benefit in many ways. First, clean, renewable energy will power the local communities. Second, the Project will pay at least $140,000 in county taxes yearly. Third, good jobs will be created. Fourth, property values often rise in the vicinity of solar projects. Fifth, the land will provide wildlife habitat and/or sheep grazing opportunities. Sixth, the name and memory of George Norris will be honored.
How do the county taxes work?
In Nebraska, by statute (77-6203), the owner of a solar system will pay $3,518 per MW-ac for the nameplate capacity of the system. The system owner pays the Nebraska Department of Revenue (DOR) annually and then the DOR forwards the payment to the county treasurer within 30 days.
Are you doing anything to make the project less intrusive?
Yes. We are voluntarily setting the project back 1,000 feet when neighbors have prominent views of the Project. We are also asking for a Condition of a 45 dB noise level to ensure that the project does not create bothersome noise. Third, we will site entrance/exit points on stretches of county roads with good visibility. Fourth, we are siting the battery pack a half mile from any residence.
Why did you name this project after George Norris, the famous McCookite?
George Norris was “the farmer’s senator.” He had two major thrusts in his career. He is a hero of ours because of what he did to bring electricity to rural America. But another major thrust of his was the improvement of the farming economy. This project does both. We believe that this project does honor to his name.
Why do you call him a hero of yours?
Norris was described by former Senator Edward Zorinsky as being guided by “an undying empathy for the working man, the farmer and the disadvantaged, blunt distrust for business and corporate power, a staunch belief in the public development of public resources and, in particular, of hydro-electric power, a sincere pacifism and hatred of war, a deep respect in civil liberties, and a clear dislike of partisan politics regardless of what party was involved. In addition, there was the legendary Norris integrity and independence.”
Norris believed that “the prosperity of agriculture was necessary for the prosperity of the nation.” How does your project support this? Aren’t you just making us live with a bunch of solar panels so people in Lincoln and Omaha can feel good about themselves with green energy?
That’s a great question. We are doing what we can to make this project as beneficial for immediate and regional neighbors of the project.
We are asking for conditions on the project that will make it a good neighbor. Specifically, a noise ordinance that is 5 dB lower than the wind energy noise ordinance and the 500 foot minimum setback from neighbors’ homes. When it will affect a neighbor’s viewshed, we are increasing the setback to 1,000 feet, which is almost a quarter-mile.
Our landowner payments are sufficient to induce farmers to participate in the project. But there are several other farmers within the project boundary who will continue farming. The project is compatible with farming as well. Its ground cover will minimize dust once the ground cover is established. Nothing will break through fences and escape. We are talking with one landowner about running sheep on some of the project land and we are open to that.
The project will make significant payments to the county, for both its operations and the school districts.
We will create a handful of jobs, which will likely be filled by local residents.
The project will help to fill the clean energy dreams of urban Nebraskans while building up the economy of Red Willow County through this low-impact solar power plant.
We are doing this project in what we believe to be the right way, regardless of how it appears to others in the solar industry or to those inclined to oppose any potential solar project. We share Norris’ independence, sincerity, and tenaciousness.
But George Norris would have opposed corporate ownership of new power plants. He was a huge proponent of publicly-owned power resources.
So are we! Through the Inflation Reduction Act that passed Congress, there are major incentives that allow NPPD to own renewable resources and take advantage of a federal credit for 30% of the cost of the Project. Our expectation is that we will build this project and then sell it to NPPD for them to own for the long term.
George Norris had an extraordinary vision for energy, rural electrification, and ethanol. Does this project follow his vision?
Yes. The leaders of NPPD, along with many, many others, see hydrogen as the next great fuel. Through renewable energy, hydrogen can be created sustainably and regionally. Norris would be thrilled to see a powerful fuel that supports the farming economy through its creation (in local power plants) and its consumption (as locally generated ammonia for farm fertilizer and for locomotive and heavy vehicle fuel).
Additionally, Norris would have understood the strategic value of interconnecting solar energy through the McCook Fuel Oil Plant, as we are doing. He would also have understood that the value of that interconnection could be further maximized by generating enough solar energy, and storing it, that the solar part of the plant could provide as much as 80% of the output that was possible, on a 24/7/365 basis.
Is that all about Norris?
One more thing: Norris did more than bring electricity to the Tennessee Valley. He created a national fertilizer research center at Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Three-quarters of the fertilizer used in America came through development at Muscle Shoals. NPPD’s purpose in acquiring the George Norris - McCook Solar Plant (or other projects instead of it) would be to provide the fuel for hydrogen production – which in turn will be utilized for farm fertilizer, regionally. Talk about coming full circle!
Has NPPD made any commitments to you, with regards to purchasing this project from you?
No. NPPD has to determine the best way to proceed with renewables now that they have “equal footing” to own the plants rather than just to purchase the energy from them. Once NPPD does that, they need to determine which plants and/or their output they want to acquire.
Why would NPPD want to acquire more renewable energy?
NPPD sees green hydrogen as the fuel of the future. It sees Nebraska as a key player in green hydrogen production and consumption. NPPD needs more renewable energy to fuel this green hydrogen production. Just one hydrogen plant, owned by Monolith Materials south of Lincoln, will use electricity equal to about 1/3 of all of the electricity that NPPD currently sells. NPPD’s green energy will be behind billions of dollars worth of new economic activity in the state because of hydrogen.
Why is NPPD interested in this project?
NPPD needs renewable electricity that can be delivered to them. Connecting power plants to the transmission grid is difficult and time-consuming. We can interconnect quickly in McCook, because there is already a power plant here. Also, McCook has some of the most intense sunlight in the state.
Why are you doing this here?
This is an important question. We are building the George Norris – McCook Solar Plant because of 1) the presence of the McCook Fuel Oil Plant; 2) support from Project landowners; 3) the availability of dry-land cultivated farmland; 4) limited impacts on wildlife and plants; 5) a limited number of neighbors 6) the excellent solar resource; 7) interest in the community.
Who will own the project long-term?
Our belief is that it will be NPPD, since they can receive significant benefits under the Inflation Reduction Act.
You have mentioned these benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act for NPPD. What are they, exactly?
NPPD can receive a check from the IRS for 30% of the installed cost of the Project. This is worth tens of million dollars to them.
Why is this project important to NPPD?
They can’t supply renewable electricity for green hydrogen without new supplies of renewable electricity, and this Project is easier and faster to bring on line than many of the alternatives.
What if you start construction and can’t finish it?
We have several protections in place against this. We won’t begin construction until all agreements with NPPD are in place, and construction financing is in place. It is possible that we could sell the Project design to NPPD prior to construction, and that they would construct it. Additionally, we will have conducted all of the environmental studies ahead of time to make sure that we do not get hung up on an endangered beetle or minnow or other important plant or animal.
How do you know that this will work?
NPPD will not agree to the Project unless they can see that it will work. We are working with excellent engineers and construction companies that have built similar projects across the country. We will do all that we can to see that every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed.
How will all of this affect the existing power plant in McCook?
Our solar project will reinforce the importance of that power plant and is not intended to replace it. The existing power plant is tremendously reliable. Having a plant that is “always there” fits very well with a solar plant, which provides low-cost “filler” electricity. We see them as being like a right and left hand.
What about the Gerald Gentleman coal plant?
Our project should not have any effect on Gerald Gentleman that we are aware of. Even though we will be functioning like a “baseload” power plant, generating energy 24 hours a day, Gerald Gentleman is 35 times larger than our plant, so the effects of our plant on its generation should be minimal. We do not, in any way, support the closing of that plant.
Will the U.S. Federal Government own the land or the Project?
No. We will need to register the project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and file annual energy production information with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, but they will not own the Project or have influence over its operation that we can foresee.
Is that it for the federal government?
We are subject to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and wetland restrictions. We have our biologists working with the various federal agencies on these. These acts require consultation with the Service and State fish and wildlife agency for the purpose of giving equal consideration to fish and wildlife resources in the planning, implementation, and operation of federal and federally funded, permitted, or licensed water resource development projects. We also know that there a variety of skippers (a fluttering insect like a butterfly), two types of sparrows, a flycatcher, the dickcissel, and the Greater Prairie Chicken that we need to be careful of while constructing the Project.
Is any of the farmland graded as prime farmland?
Yes. 484 acres of the 935 Project acres are Holdrege and Keith Silt Loam and Hord Silt Loam soils, which are considered prime.
Certainly, a question can be raised as to whether this land should be taken out of production.
We believe that, given the ability of the groundcover to retain moisture, prevent soil erosion, and sequester carbon, that this land will be even better for farming when the Project is ultimately decommissioned, and infrastructure is removed.