Gage County ends restriction on commercial solar project permits

BEATRICE – Gage County has ended its moratorium on permits for commercial solar installations.  The Gage County Board voted 6-0 Wednesday to end the restriction, given approval of regulations governing residential and commercial solar projects in the county, two weeks ago.

The board briefly discussed a possible amendment to the zoning regulations regarding industrial projects that intend to establish their own solar installations to power their facilities…..but no amendment was formally considered for a vote.

Supervisor Emily Haxby had inquired about situations where solar installations are not contiguous to an industrial project….but at another location.
"I still think it's very poorly written, in the fact that you can attach something three miles away and call it the same facility. I do not see it as the same facility, I see it as two different things. I guess when it comes to a special use permit, we'll have to look at that."

Gage County Attorney Roger Harris says such last-minute changes can be considered shortly after approval of solar regulations, by a motion to reconsider the vote on them…..then voting on a specific amendment….with a subsequent vote to approve the regulations.

One issue discussed is whether an industry using its own solar installation that is not contiguous to its facilities, would need approval of a second permit. Board Chairman Erich Tiemann says the regulations indicate it would be part of the industrial facility special use permit.

Gage County Zoning Administrator Lisa Wiegand says the county’s planning commission didn’t contemplate regulations as they relate to industries building their own solar installations, as regulations were being formulated.