WATFORD CITY, N.D. (KUMV) – In a win for local landowners, members of the planning and zoning commission unanimously voted to deny a permit for the Cattle Creek Solar Farm.
One of the main factors in the decision was a petition with 391 signatures calling on the commission to vote it down.
“I wouldn’t want it in my backyard, so I have to go with the people of the county. If they don’t want it, they don’t want it,” said one commissioner.
The project would have covered around 850 acres northwest of Arnegard and provided up to 150 megawatts of power.
Since the last P&Z meeting in November, officials with ibV Energy say they provided as much information as possible and even attempted to modify the proposed permit language as a way to support their case. But, county staff say there were too many changes to look at in a short period of time.
“I just hope you know we did give you everything in good faith as you weigh this. I certainly understand where there might be question marks, being that we are coming from out of town to present a big project,” said Eric Wedesky, project manager.
However, the nearby landowners and ranchers mentioned several environmental concerns, including the loss of grazing land and the potential for solar panels to spark wildfires.
“We would subsidize to starve ourselves. Does this make sense to anyone who is a rancher or likes to eat meat? I don’t understand it. I have way too many questions, and there are not enough good answers,” said Jackie Skadberg, McKenzie County.
The project was expected to cost more than $280 million.
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