The North Platte City Council approved a conditional-use permit on Jan. 6 for a commercial solar farm proposed by Premier Energy, but only after adding multiple protections for the city.

Jeff Cook Coyle, representing Premier Energy, told the council the project would use currently idle ground near Victoria Lane. "We're gonna get an increase up to 3.5 to 5 megs of power," he said, calling the site well-suited because of its proximity to electrical infrastructure and an adjoining property owner’s support.

Councilmembers attached conditions before voting. The council required the developer to return to the council for approval of a detailed interconnection and sub-transmission agreement with NPPD and Municipal Light & Water and to identify the power-purchasing entity before construction begins. Councilmember Volz framed that requirement as a protection: the council should "bring back to council for approval of agreement before construction begins," he said, to ensure technical and financial terms are defined.

The council also required the operator to review the project’s decommissioning plan with the city every five years and to adjust its plan as needed. During debate, the applicant confirmed a financial guarantee for decommissioning and cleanup: the application includes a $750,000 bond or deposit under a deposit-account control or escrow agreement so funds would be available to the city if the system ever became a nuisance or required removal.

Councilmembers expressed concerns about insurance, catastrophic loss and long-term liability. Tony from Municipal Light & Water told the council an interconnection and wheeling-fee study will be needed to determine whether the project will use the city’s lines or a separate transmission solution and what wheeling charges might apply.

In a separate amendment that the council adopted, members required that all inverters and their internal control components be manufactured and assembled in the United States to address cybersecurity and supply‑chain concerns. The council folded that requirement into the interconnection and approval process to be verified when the project returns for final interconnection approval.

The conditional-use permit passed on a voice vote as amended. The applicant and staff will return to the council with the detailed interconnection/sub‑transmission agreement and power‑purchasing arrangements prior to construction.

What’s next: The council directed staff and the applicant to prepare the interconnection documentation and PPA terms and to bring them back for council approval. If the council accepts those documents, final permitting and construction would follow per the approved conditions.