Deuel County planning panel declines to recommend rezoning for Missouri River Energy Services plant; CUP action delayed

The Deuel County Planning Commission voted on March 17, 2026, not to recommend rezoning roughly 71 acres from Agricultural to Commercial/Industrial for a proposed Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) natural‑gas generation facility, after an extensive public hearing that centered on noise, traffic, siting and long‑term land‑use impacts. The commission then postponed action on a related conditional‑use permit (CUP) to the April 13 meeting, contingent on any subsequent county commission decision on rezoning.

The rezoning request, filed by Missouri River Energy Services and property owner James E. Peterson Living Trust, would allow a range of commercial and industrial uses on a 71‑acre parcel; MRES says the actual developed footprint for the proposed plant would be about 20 acres. Matt Schull, president and CEO of MRES, described the agency as "a nonprofit joint action agency representing 61 member communities across four states" and said the project was designed to improve regional reliability, with construction potentially beginning in 2027 and operation targeted for 2029. Terry Wolf, MRES vice president and chief operating officer, said the site was chosen for pipeline access, substation proximity and road infrastructure…