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Silicon Ranch outlines 105 MW solar project for north Lincoln County, cites $100M investment and school revenue
Summary
Silicon Ranch representatives presented a proposed 105-megawatt solar project near Lincoln County’s northern border, describing site setbacks, a 40-year design life, an estimated $100 million capital investment and an expected roughly $15 million in tax revenue over 25 years (about $10 million to schools).
Silicon Ranch representatives told the Lincoln County School Board on the November agenda that the company holds a purchase option on a parcel at the north end of the county and is considering a roughly 105-megawatt solar facility.
"We own and operate every single project in our portfolio," said Morgan Ker, a member of Silicon Ranch’s community and economic development team, describing the company’s long-term ownership model and land-management practices. Ker said Silicon Ranch favors native grasses, pollinator habitat and, on some sites, sheep grazing to manage vegetation and reduce mowing.
Patrick Ferrell, the company’s project development lead for the site, said the project would be sited where an existing transmission line crosses the parcel and estimated the fenced area would be a little less than 700 acres of a property that is "a little over a thousand acres." He said the facility would be designed to a 40-year lifespan and noted that "there's a lot of valuable material on site even after 40 years" that could be salvaged or recycled.
Ferrell gave capacity and impact figures: "The project would be 105 megawatt," and he said that corresponds to enough energy to power about 177,000 homes. He also estimated a capital investment of about $100 million in Lincoln County and roughly $15 million in tax revenue over 25 years, with about $10 million earmarked for the school system.
The presenters referenced the county’s recently adopted solar ordinance, which they said requires 200-foot setbacks from public roadways, 200-foot setbacks from property lines, 300-foot setbacks from residences, a substantial tree buffer and a decommissioning plan describing equipment removal and site restoration. Ker and Ferrell said the company would not seek utility extensions such as water or sewer for the site and does not plan to seek tax abatements.
Board members asked about panel recycling and local examples. Ferrell said Silicon Ranch partners with Solar Cycle for recycling; panels would be sent to a processing facility identified in the transcript as being in "P County." He described Solar Cycle as a recycling partner able to process large volumes and said recycling capacity is growing as damaged panels and scale make recycling more feasible.
Ferrell said the next procedural steps would include community engagement and then formal filings: Silicon Ranch intends to seek Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners approvals for rezoning and a conditional-use permit when it files, and the company said it wants local input before submitting formal applications.
What happens next: Silicon Ranch indicated it expects to pursue community meetings and preliminary filings early next year; no formal application or vote occurred at this meeting.
