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Grant County approves BNRG solar project plan with conditions on drain crossings
Summary
After technical questioning about tile depth, outfalls and remediation, the Grant County board approved BNRG's plan for multiple regulated drain crossings for a utility-scale solar project; developer committed to field verification, trenching where possible, and remediating any drainage issues post-construction.
The Grant County board voted to approve plans presented by solar developer BNRG for a large photovoltaic project after an extended technical review focused on drainage crossings and potential impacts to nearby farmland.
Andy Baroga, the attorney representing the developer, told the board the team was seeking consent for eight crossings of regulated drains — four underground and four surface crossings — and cited hydrologic modeling in the developer’s report showing that converting cropland below panels to grass would reduce 2‑, 10‑ and 100‑year runoff levels. "We're asking for your approval of the plans as submitted," Baroga said, adding that Gas City had reviewed and issued an approval under its stormwater ordinance.
Arthur Roden of BNRG said the project team would verify drain‑tile depths in the field before construction and that underground electrical crossings would be sleeved or placed in conduit 36 inches below the bottom of tile to maintain separation from flow lines. Eric, the project engineer, told the board the team preferred trenching on the site where possible because open trenching makes tile paths easier to confirm; the group agreed directional drilling would be used only at major crossings such as railroads or state highways.
Board members pressed the developer on several points. Commissioners raised questions about whether the Heimlich ditch still outlets through the site and whether some listed drains were inactive; they asked for a field survey to confirm tile locations and for the developer to replace or upsize tiles where trenching or boring would damage existing infrastructure. Roden and the engineer committed to that approach and acknowledged lease and indemnity language in agreements with landowners.
A motion to approve the BNRG plan "as presented and modified during this discuss" was made, seconded and carried by voice vote; the chair declared the motion approved and directed staff to continue coordination with the developer and landowners on preconstruction verification and remediation obligations.
Why it matters: The project affects drainage patterns on dozens of acres adjacent to farmland and required the board’s consent because state statute and local drainage rules give the county authority over regulated drains. The developer emphasized that the proposed design would reduce modeled runoff and accepted conditions to verify tile depth, replace damaged tiles and remediate any post‑construction drainage failures.
Next steps: The developer will complete a drain‑tile survey in the field before construction, adjust crossing locations as necessary, and document remedial commitments; the county will track compliance and require any necessary repairs tied to the project’s construction.
