Two solar farms proposed, neighbors raise concerns

McCOOK, Neb. — Neighbors opposed to a proposed solar farm northwest of McCook plan a meeting to air their concerns, but another company’s solar project has been quietly making progress.

During the public comment portion of Monday’s Red Willow County Commissioners meeting, one of the neighbors, Ron Soden of McCook questioned why Premier Energy’s project should be named after Sen. George Norris since he favored public ownership of power facilities and the solar farm is being built by a private company.

Todd Cappel said he is an informal neighborhood Wednesday but might plan a larger public meeting later if necessary.

“It should be called the Lancaster County solar farm because that’s where this power is going. Red Willow County’s not benefiting any,” Soden said.

During the discussion, it was disclosed that another company, McCook Solar LLC, incorporated in April 2021 in Lincoln, Neb., has been obtaining rights to properties to the east of the Premier Energy project, and may actually be closer to construction.

That project, near the Pearson Addition, would involve McCook zoning approval.

Premier Energy, incorporated in May 2021, proposes a project which would cover about 1,000 acres, the largest in the state.

Soden, however, said it was being presented with “smoke and mirrors” and involved out-of-state rather than local interests.

In routine business, commissioners approved accounts payable of $214,005.53, a transfer of $25,02307 from the general fund to the road fund to correct an error on the highway allocation funds last year, and certified Chris Miller as county road superintendent to meet a Department of Transportation requirement.

There will be no commissioner meeting and the courthouse will be closed Dec. 26 or Jan. 2, and the courthouse will close at noon Dec. 23.