By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Earlier this year, Barton County officials were in the thick of establishing regulations for large-scale solar development. Barton County passed their regulations April 1, and now the City of Great Bend is powering through solar discussion as the municipality is getting closer to locking down their guidelines for any company wishing to construct solar panels within the three-mile zoning jurisdiction of Great Bend.
Mayor Cody Schmidt appreciated a packed room at Monday’s city council meeting with citizens that have strong opinions on potential solar development.
"If this topic is near and dear to your heart, the only way we know is by speaking up," said Schmidt. "We received all of your emails. I read every one of them. I encourage all of you to be more vocal prior to these meetings. I think a lot of you are worried about which direction this will go. Please show up to this chamber. It's open to the public for a reason."
The city council voted to send the regulations back to the Planning Commission to make a few adjustments on the language for general liability insurance and the groundwater test.
Councilmember Kevyn Soupiset acknowledged fact-based opinions are useful when the governing body is mulling over decisions.
"In terms of education and facts, we appreciate that," said Soupiset. "Please, when you do reach out to us, try to have some of that in your back pocket. It helps us and keeps the pot from being stirred as much. Sometimes it becomes rumor or misconception and it gets five layers down. Now I don't know if that's true. It helps the process on both sides."
Acciona Energy has shown interest to build solar complexes near Cheyenne Bottoms, causing some citizens to voice their concerns over the project and regulations.