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Farmer tells York County board EDF contractors breached contracts and trespassed at McCool solar site
Summary
Darrell Hayek told the board he has worked with EDF for years but that the company "has lied" and trespassed on land without contracts, causing crop damage from 2020–2021; he urged hiring renewable‑energy attorneys for contract review.
During the public comment portion of the March 22 meeting, Darrell Hayek of Friend, Nebraska, told the board he has been engaged with the solar project near McCool for several years and accused a developer (identified in his remarks as EDF) of failing to follow contractual commitments and trespassing on land where they did not hold agreements.
"They have lied. They have trespassed on ground they didn't even have contracts with," Hayek said, adding that crop‑damage claims dating back to 2020 and 2021 remain unresolved. He urged anyone negotiating or approving renewable projects to consult a renewable‑energy attorney rather than rely on local general‑practice counsel: "If you found out you had brain cancer, would you go to an oncologist or a proctologist? They're both doctors, but they have their plates."
The board did not record a formal response to Hayek’s allegations during the public comment period; commissioners noted the complaint and the complexity of developer agreements discussed later during the NPPD presentation.
Why it matters: Hayek’s claims, if substantiated, raise legal and financial issues for landowners and could affect local permitting and civil claims. Commissioners later heard technical discussion about projects in the McCool area during the NPPD briefing, which may inform follow‑up.
What’s next: The board did not take immediate action on Hayek’s statement; staff or affected landowners may follow up separately to pursue claims or request enforcement if contractual or trespass evidence exists.
