A consultant told the Ellis County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 13 that counties need expert help negotiating the suite of agreements that accompany large solar developments and cautioned that those contracts are effectively final once signed.

Oleg Alba, managing partner of AcreStrong, told commissioners his firm can advise on pilot payments, decommissioning bonds, conditional-use permits and road-use agreements, and said, "once you sign this, there's no take backs." He described both financial and field experience negotiating renewable-energy agreements in the Midwest and said AcreStrong will audit other counties’ language and grievance procedures to identify stronger protections for local governments.

County Administrator Darren Myers told the commission the consultant briefing does not commit the county to approving any project. "Hiring a consultant or a legal firm to assist the county in this process does not mean that the CUP is going to be approved," Myers said. He said consultants might surface issues that would cause the county not to proceed.

Myers said staff plans to place a proposed agreement with AcreStrong on next week’s agenda so commissioners can review the contract and legal team input before deciding whether to hire the firm. Commissioners stressed they are seeking expertise to protect local interests and that any consultant would work alongside county legal counsel and planning staff to evaluate terms, financial protections and long-term impacts.

Alba said AcreStrong also represents landowners in lease negotiations and that the firm’s work includes quantitative assessments of fair terms. Commissioners and staff emphasized the multiyear scope of any project, noting potential construction and operating timelines spanning decades and the importance of robust decommissioning language.

The commission took no vote on the project itself during the Jan. 13 meeting; the consulting agreement was added to the next meeting’s agenda for formal consideration.