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Worth County approves utility crossings for Solar West project; supervisors ask for legal review of road use terms
Summary
Board approved utility right‑of‑way crossing permits for a large solar project and asked outside counsel to review a related road and drainage agreement after supervisors raised concerns about long term terms, road upgrade specifications and snow‑removal priorities.
Worth County supervisors voted to approve interior utility right‑of‑way crossing permits submitted by Solar West LLC, moving the developer closer to on‑site construction and fall preparatory work for a large solar project.
Supervisors and staff heard a presentation from a developer representative explaining the application covers electrical conduit bores across county roads and the county drainage system, and that contractors and engineers are finalizing designs in preparation for spring construction. The developer said crews may begin limited site work this fall to reduce spring mud.
The board’s discussion focused on three issues: ensuring any road surface upgrades meet Worth County’s rock and gradation specifications; a statement in the road‑use agreement that county crews would not prioritize snow removal for roads that serve solar facilities; and the length of the proposed agreement term. One supervisor said, “I’m not gonna hand tie people’s supervisors 30, 40, 50 years from now locked into this deal,” and urged that the term not lock future boards into a 50‑year obligation.
Supervisors asked that improvements follow county construction specifications. They also unanimously approved a motion to engage external counsel (referred to in the meeting as Eric) to review the road and drainage agreement and proposed contract language before final execution. The board later moved, seconded and approved the utility permit application itself after staff confirmed permit markings and coordination procedures for borings in county right‑of‑way.
The developer noted wind turbines appearing inside the solar project boundary are separate projects and are electrically independent, and that feeder lines under the road are sized to carry roughly 5 megawatts AC per feeder; the representative said the overall solar project is 300 megawatts.
The board did not change the application or impose additional conditions in the motion approving the permit; it instead directed legal review and technical follow‑up on construction specifications, snow‑removal priorities and marking/coordination for borings.
Supervisors said they will receive a revised agreement after counsel and staff provide recommended edits. The utility permits and the request for legal review were approved by voice votes.
