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County staff says 6,000-acre Orion Energy solar project application has arrived; planning review targeted for mid-September
Summary
Planning staff reported receipt of a conditional-use application from Orion Energy for a 6,000-acre solar project in northwest Mills County (about 4,500 acres of panels), said a community-benefit plan could yield "anywhere from 200 to $500,000 per year," and asked for comments by Aug. 21 ahead of a likely Sept. 15 review.
Planning staff told the Mills County Zoning Board the county has received a conditional-use permit application from Orion Energy for an expansive solar project in northwest Mills County that would be the largest-scale development the county has seen.
Staff described the leased footprint as roughly 6,000 acres, with panels expected to cover approximately 4,500 acres. The general project area runs from Bunge Avenue down toward the river and includes land near the Bellevue interchange; some leased parcels lie on both sides of the interstate. Staff said the project team included a community-benefit plan "anywhere from 200 to $500,000 per year" to distribute funds through Mills County. (The lower bound in staff remarks is unclear in the transcript.)
Staff asked departments to sign off and said the board of supervisors, county engineer, conservation and emergency-management offices would need to approve aspects before the zoning board’s review. Staff said the county is aiming to review the application on Sept. 15 and requested comments from board members or stakeholders by Aug. 21 to meet that timeline.
Board members noted that most landowners in the area had voluntarily signed leases and that the leases could bring substantial rental payments and construction jobs, but that the scale of the project would significantly change the landscape. One member said, "It beats a subdivision," reflecting a view that solar leases can be preferable to other types of development. Staff and members compared the proposal to other recent local projects and emphasized the need for a phase plan and thorough interagency review.
No formal action was taken on the solar application at the meeting; staff announced the application’s arrival and set a review timeline and comment deadline.
