Pratt County officials told commissioners on June 2 that construction activity on a county-area solar project managed by NextEra cannot begin because required engineering surveys and bonding remain incomplete, and county staff described communication and coordination problems with the developer and contractors.

At a recent meeting with NextEra representatives, county staff said the construction manager and others were present but had not provided the Kirk and Michaels road survey required by the county; county staff declined to approve construction until Kirk and Michaels (the county’s engineer/surveyor cited in the meeting) had completed their work. Commissioners also said bonding and other contract prerequisites have not been established, and that a contractor had inquired about moving equipment onto county roads without those prerequisites in place.

Commissioners and staff described inconsistent communication between contractor personnel and the developer’s staff. County officials said they had previously required a single point of contact for the company and are directing contractors to await the county’s acceptance of required surveys, bonds and road-use plans before moving equipment onto county roads.

Commissioners discussed community concerns tied to battery-storage components associated with proposed projects, including questions about hazardous materials and emergency response. County staff noted discussions with neighboring counties about regulations and indicated the county should review zoning and emergency-response considerations before approving work that involves lithium-ion battery storage.

The board did not take regulatory action at the meeting but directed staff to continue coordinating with the developer’s attorney and with county engineering and public-safety staff on road access, bonding and any zoning or emergency-response issues tied to battery storage.