Bourbon County commissioners heard a summary Dec. 1 of a negotiated agreement with two solar developers that would allow projects to proceed under amended terms intended to address the county’s principal concerns.

County counsel said the mediation outcome under consideration would amend the moratorium and development agreement to add battery storage setbacks, require compliance with the National Electrical Code and National Fire Protection Association standards for battery systems, and mandate development and submission of emergency response plans and specific site training coordinated with emergency personnel. Counsel also said the developers would provide $100,000 in pre‑construction payments each (totaling $200,000) and annual payments of $200 per megawatt up to 800 megawatts per developer — projecting potential annual PILOT revenue of roughly $320,000 under the draft terms.

The chair said the agreement arose from mediation conducted to avoid protracted litigation and to secure stronger operational and safety commitments from developers in exchange for limited exemptions from the moratorium. Counsel will send resolution documents to the clerk and bring them for a formal vote at the next meeting.

Commissioners and staff said the package is designed to address emergency‑response training and code compliance that had concerned local first responders and planning staff while preserving the county’s authority to set setbacks and safety standards.

Next steps: Counsel will finalize draft resolutions and the contribution agreement language and deliver them to the clerk for distribution prior to the next meeting; commissioners scheduled the items for formal consideration.