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Officials and residents urge more planning as dozens of large-scale solar proposals land in White Pine County
Summary
County officials and residents urged the Regional Planning Commission to strengthen the Master Plan and zoning to manage a surge of large-scale renewable proposals; commissioners and the building official warned of tax-abatement impacts, well risks for Pump Storage and the need for mapped guidance.
Multiple speakers at the May 21 Regional Planning Commission meeting raised concerns about the pace and siting of large-scale renewable energy projects across White Pine County and urged more proactive planning.
Building Official Chris Flannery reintroduced himself and told the Commission that staff is working with the RPC on the Master Plan and mixed-use zoning. "We really need to be paying attention to what we are going to do," Flannery said, noting renewables and a 600-mw solar farm in White River discussed at a recent NRAC meeting. Commissioner Jose Noriega said the county currently has 19 applications for large-scale solar developments and warned that those projects typically receive property tax abatements. "All of the renewable energy is property tax abated at least 55%." Noriega said, adding that some proposed projects could affect local wells and that the County has assigned Jeremy Drew to review ordinances specific to large-scale renewable and industrial developments.
Residents also pressed code-enforcement and safety issues: George Chachas raised multiple ongoing concerns including eroding drainage from the Bath property that has damaged access and a potential safety hazard at White Pine Mobile Home Park; Jesse Murdock corroborated reports of recurring raw sewage issues at the trailer park. Brent Gardner, reflecting on an earlier vote, urged the Board to be more cautious in approving large projects in the future. Commissioner Pat Robison requested future meetings be held at the County Library for ADA access; the record also reflects a discrepancy in the meeting location noted by attendees (the agenda listed the Library but at least one attendee commented that the meeting ended up being held at the Historic Courthouse).
Speakers urged development of a general map and clearer ordinances so the county can identify appropriate and inappropriate locations for renewables and other large projects rather than relying on proposals driven by company siting preferences.
Next steps recorded in the meeting include continued staff work on the Master Plan and the county's assignment of Jeremy Drew to review relevant ordinances; no formal direction, zoning change, or vote on renewables occurred at this meeting.
