BEATRICE – The Gage County Planning Commission has voted to table forwarding recommendations on solar energy regulations to the Gage County Board…after hearing from about a dozen citizens on suggested changes.


The commission’s vote of 4-2 to take more time to consider the changes, came after some commission members wanted to send the regulations as written, to the Gage County Board. That body has the final say over what will be enacted.


Familiar concerns were expressed during a nearly 90-minute public hearing Tuesday night, similar to the previous debate over wind farm regulations. Issues such as appropriate setbacks, decommissioning requirements, public safety, damage clean-up in the event of storms and how solar panels would affect rural appearance were all mentioned.  Kelley Lenners, of rural Adams urged the commission to support regulations that protect residents of the county from large outside solar operations, any health effects and diminished property values. She would like the commission to consider increased setbacks from non-participant property lines…not dwellings…increasing from one-quarter of a mile to one-mile on larger operation classifications.


"Please consider a maximum number of acres that will be allowed to be built, that would eliminate large, out-of-state commercial companies to come in and destroy large areas of our county. Another thought that I had was, maybe instead of three classes, there could be four. Something twenty acres, I don't feel is a detriment...but maybe something over forty or eighty would be. Maybe those should have their own set of regulations."


Proposed rules currently would regulate three classes of solar projects, smaller residential projects, medium-sized commercial and larger commercial projects.
Representatives of the Friends of the Homestead and the Homestead National Historical Park urged the commission to consider how solar panels might affect the surrounding view. Betty Boyko is Superintendent of the park, west of Beatrice.


"We believe that the siting of the panels in a manner that glare to the public and private dwelling and roadways could be reduced, would be worth considering....especially if the project intends to use rotating panels. You might also consider requiring applicants to conduct a study to determine how a proposed project might cause glare on the landscape, which certainly is pertinent to the park's viewshed, neighboring homes, schools, public buildings."


Commission attorney, Jacob Meyer, urged the commission to keep in mind the protection of all citizens and interests in the county in accordance with state law…making sure to not over-regulate solar energy.  The commission will consider changes suggested from the hearing at their next meeting.