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Vernon County supervisors signal interest in leasing county farm for large solar project
Summary
Supervisors indicated strong interest (14 of 17) in pursuing a proposal to lease county farm acreage for a large-scale solar project that would pay $1,000 per acre per year on a proposed 25-year contract versus current farmland rent of $311 per acre.
Fourteen of the Vernon County supervisors raised their hands July 25 to indicate interest in exploring a proposal to lease part of the county farm for a large-scale solar project.
Phil Hewitt opened the discussion for the General Government Committee, which asked the full board whether it wants to pursue a solar project and, if so, to post a request for proposals. The proposal described to the board would pay $1,000 per acre per year on a 25-year contract; the board was told current farmland rents are $311 per acre per year.
If the board directs staff to proceed, the county would issue an RFP and evaluate bidders, committee members said. Chair Lorn Goede asked for a show of hands and recorded 14 of 17 supervisors signaling interest; no formal motion to post an RFP was recorded in the minutes excerpt provided.
Administrative and fiscal details — including lease terms, tax implications, site remediation, and any decommissioning obligations at the end of a 25-year contract — were not specified in the meeting minutes and would be subject to future committee review.
The board is expected to address the matter through the General Government Committee and, if it so chooses, by posting an RFP and returning a recommendation to the full board.
