Commission split over Poplar Lake 10‑MW solar project as neighbors press decommissioning, farmland concerns

The Morrison County Planning Commission on March 17 debated a conditional‑use permit for a 10‑megawatt solar farm proposed for a 155.45‑acre parcel east of Little Falls and voted 2–3 against recommending approval to the County Board.

Tina Munson, a US Solar representative, told the commission the project would occupy about 57 acres, interconnect with Minnesota Power, include vegetation screening and a pollinator seed mix beneath panels, and that "we assume panels have a useful life of about 30 years." She said the company can provide a fuller decommissioning plan and is open to adjusting the proposed decommissioning security.

The staff report outlined technical details and conditions the commission could consider. Amy, Land Services staff, noted two of three Minnesota Power interconnection studies were complete, the site includes an on‑site wetland delineation and is adjacent to Poplar Lake State Wildlife Management Area, and that the DNR flagged Blanding's turtles in the vicinity and listed avoidance actions the applicant had agreed to follow. Staff also recorded the applicant's proposed $750,000 financial surety for decommissioning and advised that amount be compared to practices in other Minnesota counties.

Neighbors and written commenters urged rejection or strict conditions. In written comments entered into the record, Mindy Jennings said the project would "replace that beauty with an industrial sea of glass and steel" and warned of fiscal risk if decommissioning funds are inadequate. David and Irene Becker argued the county's comprehensive plan prioritizes protecting high‑quality agricultural land. Multiple residents who spoke in public comment asked for additional screening along the project's southern edge and questioned whether productive farmland should be used for a solar array.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on practical details. Commissioners asked how many decommissionings US Solar has completed (the applicant said it has not yet decommissioned projects locally but projects have been repowered or removed in other states), how the proposed surety was derived, who would perform decommissioning (the applicant/owner), and whether repowering at end of life was an option. The applicant said the company typically proposes amounts of about $75,000 per megawatt based on examples from other counties and that it would provide a detailed decommissioning cost estimate if requested.

Commissioners debated conditions, including a requirement to establish and maintain adequate vegetation on the site, adding a tree buffer on the south side to shield nearby homes (with limits on tree height to avoid panel shading), and mechanisms to review and update decommissioning security over time (for example, scheduled reevaluations at 5‑ or 10‑year intervals). Staff noted a stormwater and pollution prevention plan will be required at permit stage because of the amount of disturbance.

A motion to recommend approval of the conditional‑use permit failed on a 2–3 vote (two votes in favor, three opposed). The commission chair said the item will be scheduled for the County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 7, 2026, for final action.

What commissioners said and next steps: commissioners who opposed the recommendation cited the project's location on prime agricultural soils and uncertainty about long‑term decommissioning funding; commissioners who favored forwarding the application stressed the project's proximity to existing utility infrastructure and the potential for local tax revenue and agrivoltaics. The County Board will consider the application and any conditions the Planning Commission discussed at its April 7 meeting.