TOPEKA (KSNT) – Shawnee County leaders have approved new regulations for solar energy projects in unincorporated areas during a commission meeting Monday, following years of research and public input from county residents.
The decision creates a formal framework for how large-scale solar developments will be reviewed and approved in the county moving forward. The ordinance establishes guidelines for project size limits, setbacks from homes and roadways, and requirements for land restoration after projects end.
Shawnee County Commissioner Aaron Mays said the county previously had no formal rules in place governing solar development.
“So, Shawnee County right now doesn’t have a, prior to today at least, did not have any solar regulations at all,” Mays said. “And so we initially started talking about this a couple of years ago and decided that we needed to have some sort of a framework in place.”
County officials said the process included months of public input, Planning Commission review and coordination with county departments as they worked to shape the final regulations. Supporters of the ordinance said the new rules will help encourage responsible solar development while supporting clean energy expansion in Kansas.
“We supported the solar ordinance to create a good framework, so allow landowners to provide their land into solar systems and solar farms,” said Zack Pistora, state director for the Kansas Sierra Club.
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Pistora added that solar development can provide economic and environmental benefits, including new investment opportunities for landowners and expanded renewable energy use across the region. The new regulations set standards for project size limits, setbacks from homes and roadways and land restoration requirements after project completion.
County leaders said the rules are intended primarily for large-scale solar projects and will not significantly impact most residents’ daily lives, as residential solar remains unchanged. Officials also noted that no major solar projects have been proposed yet, but said the regulations are intended to prepare the county ahead of future development. The new regulations will take effect after official publication.
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