RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A newly revised alternative energy proposal in Pennington County would separate small-scale solar and wind systems meant to power a home or farm from utility-scale projects designed to feed electricity to the grid.
Under the proposal, homeowners could still install smaller systems, but with added limits, such as prohibiting solar panels or wind systems in residential front yards.
For larger projects, the rules would add new requirements. Developers would need a Conditional Use Permit and would be required to meet a noise limit near homes, along with other standards tied to siting and operations.
Some residents say shifting large-scale projects toward industrial-zoned areas does not automatically address neighborhood impacts—because many industrial zones sit close to Rapid City.
“A lot of the industrial zoning is adjacent to Rapid City,” said Rapid City resident Eileen Peterson. “So my concerns are the setbacks are not adequate… especially the battery storage facilities that have now been added to the ordinance.”
One of the biggest additions in the revised draft is a full set of regulations for Battery Energy Storage Systems, often called BESS. The proposal calls for stricter fire-safety standards, detailed emergency response plans and training, and a decommissioning plan backed by financial guarantees intended to prevent cleanup costs from falling on the county.
Peterson said she’s especially focused on what she sees as inadequate buffer distances if a battery storage facility were to catch fire.
“Right now, I think setbacks are less than one hundred feet or less than three hundred feet,” Peterson said. “If there’s a fire in a battery storage facility that’s not far enough away from schools, let alone residences. So we’re going to try to talk them into that or try to talk them into a moratorium on battery storage altogether.”
Other residents say their biggest question is what happens decades from now, when equipment needs to be removed and land restored.
One resident argued that leasing arrangements could leave communities exposed if companies dissolve or walk away.
“The solar company leases the land for more money than what they could purchase it for. And who would do that?” the resident said. “If you’re a business owner, you’re not going to spend more money on purpose unless there’s a hidden agenda there… We believe those companies would rather lease for more money because… they’re not going to clean the mess up when they’re done. They’re just going to abandon it and it’s going to be our problem.”
The ordinance is expected to face more public comment as county commissioners weigh the updated standards, particularly the new battery storage rules, setback distances, and long-term cleanup responsibility.
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