Commissioners to consider stormwater management and agrivoltaics plans Dec. 18 for Kansas Sky Energy Center project

The Board of County Commissioners will soon consider approval of Kansas Sky Energy Center’s updated stormwater management plan and revised agrivoltaics plans for a commercial-size solar farm north of Lawrence. 

The updated and revised plans will be presented during the Commission’s business meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Public Works/Zoning and Codes Building, 3755 E. 25th St. The meeting will also be available by Zoom. The agenda packet can be found on the county website.

Commissioners will receive presentations from staff and Kansas Sky Energy Center about the plans, hear public comment, discuss the items, and consider action. These plans are among the CUP conditions of approval.

Written public comments can be submitted at https://www.dgcoks.gov/county-commission/contact or by emailing publiccomment@dgcoks.gov. If you have questions about the plans, please email info@kansasskyenergycenter.com. 

Background:

On April 13, County Commissioners unanimously approved Kansas Sky Energy Center’s request for a 25-year conditional use permit, or CUP, for a commercial/utility scale solar energy conversion system use, commonly referred to as a solar farm, on 1,105 acres of property in Grant Township subject to conditions of approval. The project is an up to 159-megwatt alternating current (MWac) photo voltaic (PV) solar energy facility. The project is anticipated to produce renewable energy capable of supplying electricity to about 30,000 Kansas homes annually.

The facility will be located west of the intersection of East 1450/U.S. Highways 24 and 59 with one parcel at the northwest corner of East 1400 and U.S. Highway 24/59 and another in the southwest corner of the intersection of East 1500 and North 2000 roads.

On May 22, Commissioners approved Resolution 24-14 granting the CUP for the Kansas Sky Energy Center project with conditions.

On Aug. 14, Commissioners approved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Agreement between Free State Solar Project LLC and the county commission.  The first PILOT payment of $200,000 will be made in the year after the project is completed and operations have commenced.

For more information about the project, visit: https://www.kansasskyenergycenter.com