City of Great Bend to get involved in solar farm discussion

By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post

While Barton County and the Barton County Planning Commission has dealt with the majority of the potential solar farm addition in the county, the City of Great Bend will soon get involved in the conversation.

Acciona Energy approached the Barton County Commission in January 2023 about placing a solar farm to the northeast of Great Bend. The proposed location includes property within three miles of Great Bend, so City Administrator Brandon Anderson said Acciona will present to the city council during the Feb. 20 meeting.

"We also have to come up with similar regulations for the three miles that surround Great Bend," said Anderson. "They're going to pitch that project our way. I think this will be first that they've spoken to city council. Obviously, this has been a discussion for quite some time with the county."

A moratorium on commercial solar development in the county has been extended through March 31 to give the Planning Commission time to craft solar regulations.

While landowners have already leased ground to Acciona, the Planning Commission has hesitation allowing the development, wanting to protect the Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands nearby.

A Planning Commission public hearing will be held Feb. 22 at Barton Community College to receive comments on zoning regulations pertaining to solar energy. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in Room F-30 of the Fine Arts Building on campus.