HOLTON, Kan. (WIBW) – Courthouse
The Jeffrey Solar Project is a 5-thousand acre solar farm proposed for construction near 158th road, just west of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation.
Residents have already sued to stop the project, but according to a judge, they failed to show how the project would materially harm them.
The public was invited to speak at a public hearing before the Jackson Planning Commission.
The meeting was not explicitly focused on the project, but concerns regarding it were repeatedly brought up throughout the meeting.
According to the developer, NextEra Energy, this project would create at least a thousand new jobs and has the potential to generate almost two million dollars in tax revenue for the local communities.
One camp feels that Jackson Co. should follow Nemaha County’s lead, who already has a major wind farm and has reaped the economic benefits.
“They have reaped millions and millions of dollars in economic development,” one resident in favor of the project said. “So, I am asking you tonight and in the future, don’t make the same mistake that was made in the 1970’s and let’s grow Jackson County economically.”
Others argue it’s risky to invest taxpayer dollars into a project that could potentially fail down the road and that local landowners aren’t being fully considered in the matter.
A resident against the project stated, ” Make sure your regulations take care of the tax payers in your county before they take care of a company from Florida. Regulations are only as good as the paper they’re written on.“
According to NextEra Energy the Jeffery Solar Project is scheduled to begin operations by Feb. 2030, pending local and state approval.
The next public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the Jackson County Courthouse.
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