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Ellis County delays decision on 1,829-acre Tallgrass solar project, seeks PILOT, road and decommissioning guarantees
Summary
Commissioners held an extensive Jan. 6 discussion of Tallgrass Development’s proposed ~1,829-acre Tallgrass (ibV) solar project and said they will not act until fully executed PILOT, road‑use, PPA and decommissioning agreements, independent engineering oversight and additional environmental and pipeline studies are in place.
Joint Planning Commission Chair David McDaniel and county staff presented a conditional‑use permit application from Tallgrass Development (ibV Energy) for a commercial solar conversion system on roughly 1,829.2 acres in Ellis County. David McDaniel said the project’s “limit of disturbance is approximately 950 acres, and the total fenced area is approximately 925 acres,” and that the developer estimated a private capital investment of about $275 million and tax revenues of an estimated $738,461 per year over the project’s lifespan.
Chair Michael Berges and other commissioners pressed the developer and county staff on technical and contractual safeguards. Commissioners listed 18 information items they wanted addressed including water‑use during construction and operations, where ibV stands in the Southwest Power Pool interconnection process, environmental studies for local species such as prairie chickens, identification and setbacks for the Kaw gas pipeline, foreign‑equipment sourcing requirements, and details of decommissioning, insurance and bonding. Berges set ground rules for public discussion and emphasized the need for thorough review before any vote.
County Administrator Darin Myers said a fully executed payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement, a road‑use agreement with pre‑ and post‑construction engineering surveys, an agreement to fund county‑selected legal and engineering oversight, a power‑purchase agreement (PPA) and a finalized decommissioning plan would be required before the commission could consider final approval. Myers said some negotiations had begun and that those documents and negotiated protections will be returned to the commission in future meetings.
Public comment flagged outstanding local concerns about infrastructure and environmental risk. Jackie Augustine, representing Audubon of America, urged careful environmental review. Kurt VonBokern of Kaw Pipeline said the pipeline operator had only just learned of the project and asked to remain involved, noting fencing, setbacks and potential corrosion impacts needed study. Rural resident Keith Pfannenstiel pressed the county for public information about buried gas lines and expressed concern that landowners and the public were not receiving sufficient information. Randy Rogers raised weed‑management concerns, saying ongoing mowing could spread noxious species without a clear mitigation plan.
The commission took no action on the CUP at the Jan. 6 meeting. Commissioners said the project will return for future consideration after the company and county staff finalize the agreements and studies discussed and after additional public outreach (ibV’s open houses were scheduled for Jan. 22).
