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Commission approves limited start for Crescent Valley solar project under 2‑acre threshold
Summary
After company representatives described limited inverter-pile work and said they had invested more than $5 million so far, the commission approved a narrowly scoped start of construction for inverter piles and limited electrical work at the Crescent Valley Solar site under the existing special-use permit.
The Lander County Commission approved a limited start for the Crescent Valley Solar Energy Project that allows installation of inverter piles and limited steel-pile work at selected locations on the project site under the county’s existing special-use permit (SUP 2019-05-08-1). County staff and two company representatives — Linda Bullen (S4, energy/environmental attorney) and Paul Berman (S14, Invent Energy director of renewable development) — presented the request and answered commissioners’ questions about disturbance acreage, timeframes and obligations if the project does not proceed.
Paul Berman said the immediate disturbance would be small: “So for these inverter piles ... they’re gonna be, about 0.06 acres of disturbance,” and added that combined small construction for inverters and battery test work would remain well under the county’s 2‑acre moratorium threshold. He also told the board Invent Energy has spent more than $5,000,000 on the project and that tax-credit timing requires a completed project online by 2029 to remain eligible.
Commissioners pressed for clarity on long-term plans and removal obligations. Berman said the company is contractually obliged to remove facilities if the project does not continue and that the limited start does not bypass normal building permits. After discussion the board approved the motion to allow the limited activity based on the finding that the disturbance is below the moratorium threshold and subject to the normal permit process.
