Consultant to present solar farm recommendations

McCOOK, Neb. — A consultant will deliver its analysis of an application for a special zoning exception for a solar installation northwest of McCook at a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council on Monday.

Marvin Planning Consultants will be on hand to explain its memo and answer questions at 5:15 p.m. Monday at the City Council chambers, 505 West C in McCook.

The memo includes a number of recommendations regarding the application, including the possible need for changes to the city’s Future Land Use Plan; a site plan noting the location of batteries, fencing and signage; a requirement that lighting not cast glare off the site; cleanup of a salvage or junk yard on the property; a decommissioning plan in place before construction, including a bond, letter of credit or escrow account and other points.

39 North LLC plans a facility for up to 65-megawatt. AC solar generating facility on approximately 551 acres of land, involving solar panels, racking, trackers, inverters, a short overhead transmission line, battery energy storage system, access roads, letdown yard, transformer, junction boxes, substation, operations and maintenance building and an AC electrical current collection system.

It is northwest and adjacent to the city limits extending into the city’s extra-territorial jurisdiction in land zoned as agricultural.

Property owners include Harold B. And Lori S. Pearson, Pearson’s Pheasant Run Ltd, Masonic Temple, Palic Revocable Trusts and CCJH LLC.

Another solar installation is proposed northwest of McCook, but it is outside the city’s extra-territorial jurisdiction. The county is currently under an alternative energy moratorium pending update of county zoning regulations.