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Photo * Premier Energy
by: Kristi Smith, The North Platte Bulletin – Jan. 6, 2026
After months of discussion and debate, the North Platte city council has placed conditions and requirements on a proposed solar farm on the south edge of town, and then approved it on a split vote, 5-3.
It will be west-central Nebraska’s first commercial solar farm. The measure passed on a 5–3 vote, with councilmen Brad Garrick, Ty Lucas, and Ed Rieker voting no.
Approval of the permit does not authorize construction to begin immediately. Infrastructure capacity, long-term development in the area, and industry-standard rates must all be evaluated before final agreements are approved, Utility Manager Tony Miller said.
The council added three primary conditions aimed at protecting the city’s infrastructure and long-term financial interests.
One condition requires the developer, Premier Energy, to return to the council for approval of a detailed interconnection agreement before construction begins. The agreement must outline how the solar farm will connect with Nebraska Public Power District and/or North Platte Municipal Light & Water, identify the power purchase agreement (PPA), and detail any sub-transmission or wheeling arrangements.
“Wheeling” is the transmission of power from one system to another through a third-party network.
Councilman Pete Volz said the requirement will ensure transparency before millions of dollars of city electrical infrastructure becomes involved.
“We want to understand exactly how this will connect, who the end user is, and how it impacts our system before construction starts,” Volz said.
Volz also asked for a requirement for the city to review plans for decommissioning the farm every five years and account for changes in market conditions, material values, and long-term risk.
Premier Energy representative Jeff Cooke Coyle said the project would be insured, treated as a long-term asset, and protected by a $750,000 bond to cover removal and cleanup if the system becomes inoperable.
The requirement addresses concerns about worst-case scenarios, including severe hail damage, project failure, or bankruptcy.
Coyle said in the unlikely event that the project doesn’t work out financially, the components will still have market value.
“Projects like this are bought and sold across the country,” he said. “And if it ever reaches the end of its life, decommissioning makes economic sense.”
Councilman Ed Rieker added another requirement, that the solar inverters as well as internal components be manufactured in the U.S. The requirement responds to concerns about the security, or possible spyware, that might be attached to foreign-sourced components.
Volz moved to approve the zoning permit for the solar field. He said the project met the minimum standards in city ordinances and complied with applicable ordinances and regulations. It has adequate utility capacity, appropriate traffic access, is consistent with zoning regulations, and is compatible with the surrounding industrial and agricultural area.
Before the discussion was over, Garrick reiterated that arrangements for wheeling fees, charges for transmitting power across municipal lines, would require further study to ensure the city is not subsidizing the project or assuming unnecessary risk.
Previously, during a Dec. 2 meeting, representatives from Premier Energy generally addressed questions regarding ownership, interconnection with Municipal Light & Water, potential power sales, decommissioning requirements, and assured the council that the project would not require city subsidies or obligate the city to purchase the electrical power that the farm generates.
Council members also considered construction-related traffic impacts and the project’s relationship with the Nebraska Public Power District — the city’s current supplier of electricity.
Following a public hearing and discussion, the council voted to table further consideration at both the Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 meetings to allow more time for review.
© 2026 The North Platte Bulletin. All rights reserved!
Everybody get your popcorn! Talk back entertainment begins in 3…2…1…
What a waste of money…. let’s see if monthly utilities go down in every household. This is a terrible joke.
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