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Cherokee County extends one-year moratorium on commercial solar projects
Summary
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted to extend a moratorium on commercial solar energy projects until Sept. 9, 2025, while debating whether to pursue countywide zoning to regulate future developments. The measure passed with one commissioner opposed.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 9 to extend a countywide moratorium on commercial solar energy projects until Sept. 9, 2025.
Chairman Cory Moates moved to approve the extension and Commissioner Lorie Johnson seconded; the motion passed with Commissioner Frazier recorded as voting against. The action was entered as Resolution 23-2024 in the minutes.
County Counselor Jake Conard told the Board that, for liability and transparency, his recommendation is to consider zoning the entire county to regulate solar projects. He said zoning would be a large undertaking but would make future regulation smoother, noting Labette County took 16 months to zone in a comparable effort. Commissioner Johnson raised cost concerns, saying she expects the expense to be "in the area of $250,000" for planning and hiring a consultant. Commissioner Frazier said she was opposed to countywide zoning.
Clearway Energy representative Jon Hadley provided details about the size, design and output of the proposed solar developments and answered commissioners' questions, and multiple landowners addressed the Board during public comment with mixed views for and against the developments.
The resolution formalizes the one-year pause while the Board considers regulatory options, including the longer-term question of whether to adopt a countywide zoning plan and the budgetary implications of that step.
