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Commission hears update on AES solar project; battery storage addition prompts new permit application
Summary
Commissioner Heaton reported that AES, the developer of an approved solar farm west of Big Water, is returning with a new conditional‑use permit to add on‑site battery storage; the commission is drafting recommendations to SITLA and solicited input from members and the public.
Commissioner Wade Heaton updated the commission on a solar farm project west of Big Water that had previously been approved. He said the developer, AES, has paused construction for several months while redesigning parts of the project and is now proposing to add on‑site battery storage.
Heaton said the change is substantial because the solar array would reduce exported power while batteries would store output on site and discharge to the transmission line as capacity and demand allow. He noted commission concern with the proposal and said AES appeared at the commission meeting the previous day. Because the land involved is trust land administered by the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), the county acts in a recommending role; the commission is currently formulating recommendations to SITLA and has not yet finalized them.
Heaton invited commissioners and members of the public to provide input individually and said staff will continue work on recommendations. No formal motion or county decision on the AES application was made at the Nov. 13 meeting.
