Pennington County planning commissioners on Oct. 14 opened a lengthy public hearing on proposed ordinance amendment OA 25‑16, which would revise the county zoning ordinance’s alternative‑energy provisions, and ultimately continued the matter to the Oct. 27 Planning Commission meeting after several hours of public testimony.

Commission staff had placed the draft ordinance before a citizen task force and the planning commission; a commissioner who chaired the task force described a months‑long effort that began in April and included industry and landowner representatives. The commissioner said the committee’s work produced a restrictive draft ordinance intended to move final decisions on large utility‑scale projects to the Board of County Commissioners while adding standards on setbacks, screening, transmission lines and other project elements.

Many speakers urged stronger protections for agriculture, wildlife and neighboring properties. Eileen (last name not specified) told the commission that wind‑turbine debris can carry fiberglass shards over long distances and asked for larger setbacks; she noted that several Nebraska counties have setbacks ranging from one to several miles. Environmental and ranching advocates urged wildlife corridors for long stretches of solar panels; one speaker called grasslands "among the most endangered ecosystem in North America" and warned that fragmentation is irreversible. Multiple speakers raised decommissioning as a major concern and urged stronger financial assurance and bonding to ensure companies cannot walk away from cleanup costs.

Developers and proponents also spoke. Dale Harris of Infinity Global, which has indicated interest in utility‑scale projects, said projects require case‑by‑case review and that the ability for the Board of County Commissioners to make final decisions was "one of the most valuable" features of the draft ordinance. Other proponents said household and rooftop solar are preferable to using prime agricultural land and repeated that county review and conditions can mitigate local impacts.

Commissioners noted additional regulatory context: a state legislative change was cited that affects hybrid or split projects and the Public Utilities Commission’s jurisdiction, and an existing conditional‑use permit for a project near New Underwood (Eurotech) remains under review with the county for progress toward implementation. Commissioners also reminded the public that the Board of County Commissioners will consider whether to extend the county’s moratorium on new applications at its Oct. 21 meeting.

After the hearing and multiple public comments, a motion to continue OA 25‑16 to the Oct. 27 Planning Commission meeting carried by voice vote. Commissioners asked that speakers submit written comments as well and sign up to return on the continued hearing date.