Planning commission continues hearing on Sundance Solar project after hours of testimony on batteries, wildlife, taxes and fire safety

The Elbert County Planning Commission held an extended public hearing April 15 on a proposed utility-scale solar and battery project known as Sundance Solar, hearing technical presentations, agency referrals and nearly two hours of public comment before continuing the matter to a follow-up session April 16 at 6 p.m.

Planning manager Jennifer Jones opened the staff presentation for both a major 10-41 permit (10:41-2024-1310) and a Special Use Review (SUR20240028). “Good evening, planning commission. I'm Jennifer Jones, the planning manager presenting the Sundance solar projects to you tonight,” Jones said. She described the project as a proposal to develop up to 74.9 megawatts (MW) of solar generation and roughly 50 MW of battery energy storage (BESS) on a privately leased tract at the southeast corner of Kiowa Bennett Road and County Road 154. The overall landholding spans about 1,100 acres; the proposed solar footprint is roughly 600 acres.

Cypress Creek Renewables' senior project developer Zach Bartholomew represented the applicant and provided technical detail, economics and community engagement information. Bartholomew described a development timeline with construction expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025 and commercial operation targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. He told the commission that the project team had engaged with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the Division of Water Resources, Kiowa and Elizabeth fire districts, CORE Electric Cooperative and multiple county departments.

The application package includes a long list of technical studies and mitigation commitments: a wetland and water body delineation (the applicant reported a preliminary Army Corps review that found no jurisdictional waters), habitat and wildlife surveys, a vegetation management plan, drainage and stormwater documentation, geotechnical reports, an updated Phase I environmental site assessment, a decommissioning plan with an initial bond estimate, and a traffic analysis. Several referral agencies and departments…