Johnson County supervisors said Aug. 28 that a proposed large-scale solar installation led by developer Sean Kennedy has advanced to the stage of land agreements and local outreach, and that the project will require approval from state utility regulators to proceed.

The project matters because supervisors framed it as a significant clean-energy installation that could produce utility-scale electricity and prompt local debate over farmland use and siting.

"It has the potential to power 30,000 rooftops," one supervisor said during the meeting, noting that, if approved by the Iowa Utilities Board and interconnection arrangements proceed, the project could supply energy at a scale comparable to the residential needs of a large city area. Supervisors described visiting the site and said Kennedy had updated maps for the project — which was formerly called the Solar Triangle — and that the developer was working to coordinate with landowners and MidAmerican Energy on panel installation.

Supervisors also acknowledged local concerns about converting agricultural land to solar production and framed the project as "farming something different," noting that solar arrays represent a new type of land use that generates energy rather than conventional crops.

No formal county approvals tied to siting or permitting were recorded at the meeting; supervisors discussed liaison meetings, community outreach and the need for regulatory approval from the Iowa Utilities Board and other state-level processes.

Supervisors said they would continue to monitor the project and that developer outreach was ongoing. The meeting record shows no votes or county directives that changed land-use rules during this session.