Wagoner County commissioners table NextEra solar conditional-use appeal after hours of public comment

Wagoner County commissioners on Monday delayed action on an appeal of a conditional-use permit for a proposed NextEra solar project after more than an hour of public testimony and questions about siting, property values and equipment origins.

The hearing drew more than a dozen residents and several elected officials to the Wagoner County Courthouse, where commenters urged the board to postpone any decision until all commissioners could be present and until the public record included additional materials. Commissioner James moved to table the matter; Commissioner Randy seconded the motion and the roll call recorded Commissioner Manning and Commissioner Stamps voting “Aye.” The matter was tabled for the next meeting.

The project under review was referred to in the packet and meeting as the Persica (also described in materials as Circa) solar project and was described by residents as located near the county’s south border and the Arkansas River. Opponents raised multiple concerns, including groundwater and mining permits at a separate NextEra site in Garfield County, potential effects on property values, and whether energy produced would be available locally.

“Nextera has been found purchasing groundwater without a permit,” said Nianne Clinton, identifying herself as a private citizen and saying she was speaking about NextEra projects in Garfield County. “They have been found to be mining without a permit. They have been installing thousands of acres of solar panels without approval and a permit from the state fire marshal’s office.”

Representative Jim Shaw, who identified himself as representing House District 32, told commissioners he has researched property-value studies and cited academic and appraisal-industry reports that he said showed nearby solar facilities can depress home values and slow sales. “Within half a mile, it jumps to 7% property value reduction,” Shaw said, summarizing one study’s findings.

Supporters of the project who addressed the board urged commissioners to approve the conditional use for the benefit of landowners and schools. In earlier materials on the project, NextEra has described the proposal as a regional supply asset tied into the Southwest Power Pool.

Several speakers questioned whether electricity from the project would be used locally. A commenter presenting a written rebuttal cited a company called Heartland Spirit Connector and said export routes could send power across multiple states. “I am not 100% confident that Wagoner County is going to be able to use the energy from the solar farm,” a resident said.

Speakers also raised security and supply-chain questions; one speaker referenced national reporting and asked the county to investigate possible embedded communications devices and manufacturing origin for solar components. Other commenters emphasized local agricultural and visual impacts and asked that panels be sited on marginal lands rather than productive farmland.

At the end of the public comment period the board decided to table the item so the commissioner representing the district with the proposed project could be present for the vote. Commissioners later instructed the district attorney’s office to pursue outside counsel on the pending appeal from the denial of the conditional-use permit (see Votes at a glance). No final decision on the permit was made at Monday’s meeting.

The conditional-use matter is listed in the county record as resolution 2025-019 and is tied to an appeal referenced in court filings as case number C‑25‑090RRJ (appeal from denial of conditional-use permit). The board did not adopt new standards or approve the project at Monday’s meeting; it moved the item to a future agenda so the full commission can vote with all members present.