The Pennington County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 7 to extend a temporary zoning moratorium on utility‑scale alternative energy developments — including large solar and wind projects — for one additional year while county planners and the Planning Commission complete ordinance revisions.

Background: The county imposed an initial moratorium on Nov. 19, 2024, while a task force drafted changes to Section 3‑17 of the zoning ordinance covering renewable energy systems. That temporary moratorium was set to expire in December 2025. Planning staff recommended a one‑time extension of up to one year to allow the Planning Commission time to hear public testimony, produce a consolidated ordinance draft, and accommodate the 30‑day publication and appeal timelines required by law.

Public comment and board debate: The meeting drew dozens of residents and landowners. Some supported an extension, citing concerns about noise, infrasound, wildlife impacts, agricultural fragmentation, waste disposal, setbacks, and cumulative acreage loss. Others — including representatives of companies proposing projects near New Underwood and the Rapid City Economic Development community — urged the board to wait for the Planning Commission’s recommendation from its Oct. 27 meeting and to allow specific solar projects to proceed.

The board debated shorter continuances (90 days) versus a full year. Supporters of a longer extension argued that the Planning Commission was likely to need multiple meetings to resolve complex technical and land‑use issues and that the county should avoid a rushed, incomplete ordinance that would force applications under inadequate rules. Opponents said a long extension would unduly delay landowners and prospective projects and urged splitting treatment of wind and solar.

Action: The board ultimately approved a one‑year extension of the temporary zoning ordinance after a substitute motion to continue only to Nov. 4 failed. Commissioners stressed that the extension is procedural: if the Planning Commission finalizes a revised ordinance earlier, the board can adopt it and lift the moratorium earlier.

Votes: Motion to extend temporary zoning moratorium (one year) — mover: Commissioner Durr; second: Commissioner Rosknecht; outcome: approved (motion carried).