JACKSON COUNTY (KSNT) – Jackson County leaders are set to hold a meeting Thursday on a moratorium proposal tied to a major solar project.
The Jackson County Planning Commission is set to talk about and possibly recommend a solar moratorium to the county’s board of commissioners during a meeting on April 9 in Holton. Members of the local community will have a chance to offer their comments and recommendations during this sessions.
The members of the Planning Commission may close the hearings and consider the recommendations during this meeting. If the recommendations are adopted, the commission will refer the details to the Jackson County Board of County Commissioners for final consideration and approval.
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The proposed new 500-megawatt renewable energy solar project in the county, called Jeffrey Solar, has been in the works for several years. NextEra Energy Resources is the company behind the push to bring this project to life in Jackson County, but some local residents are opposed to the installation.
Jeffrey Solar may take up to 2,000 acres of space in the county in an area west of Holton, around 6,600 football fields of land. Residents opposed to the project have objected to the large amount of space the project will take up and the potential environmental damage it might cause.
NextEra reports the project will bring new employment opportunities to the county and generate $136 million in revenue. Laura Gies, a representative of NextEra, said the company is committed to investing in Kansas through its Jeffrey Solar project.
“Jeffrey Solar will contribute approximately $24.5 million to the area in the first decade of operations and is projected to generate a total of $136 million in new tax revenue over its lifespan. This funding can help support schools, roads and other vital public services. The boost can give Jackson County leaders more financial flexibility as they plan ahead.
The Jeffrey Solar team continues to stay involved locally in Jackson County as the Planning and Zoning Committee develops solar regulations. Our goal is to submit an application that reflects the county’s standards and delivers local value — homegrown energy, employment opportunities and added economic activity for local communities and across the state.”
Laura Gies, NextEra Energy Resources representative
The Jackson County Planning Commission meeting will be from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 9 at 400 New York Ave. in Holton on the first floor of Memorial Hall. You can learn more about the meeting by clicking here.
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