Seward County’s moratorium on commercial wind turbine, solar and battery-generated energy projects has been extended into 2027.
The moratorium has been in place since August 2023, while the county has updated and deliberated its revised zoning regulations.
Commission Chair Misty Ahmic told the county commissioners at the Aug. 25 meeting that the extension will be automatically ended if the county approves the proposed zoning regulations it has been considering prior to January.
“This is exactly what we did before,” Ahmic said of the moratorium.
The moratorium acknowledges the significance of renewable energy in advancing environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions but requires the county to set a standard for such resources that aligns with community infrastructure and the county’s comprehensive plan.
The energy sources impacted by the moratorium include connected solar conversion systems with 500 kilowatts or more capacity for a community or power grid, any wind energy conversion system under aggregated ownership or operating control that includes substations, towers, cable or other building accessories serving off-site customers.
The draft zoning regulations document under consideration, which is now available on the county zoning website, defines renewable energy as “energy sources, including wind, solar power, biomass, and hydropower, that can be regenerated.”
The draft indicates it is the county’s intent to provide for “orderly development of renewable energy generation facilities” complying with the county’s comprehensive plan and protecting public health, safety and welfare. The document has about 25 pages of regulations for these energy sources and includes them in the zoning matrix under public/private utilities and communication services.
The proposed zoning matrix indicates battery energy storage systems defined as Tier 1 would be permitted anywhere, but the Tier 2 group would require a conditional use permit.
Class 2 solar energy conversion systems would require conditional use permits for possible use only in areas zoned Agricultural, light industrial or general industrial.
Class 3 and 4 solar energy conversion systems and commercial and utility wind energy conversion systems would require conditional use permits for possible use only in agricultural or general industrial zones.
The next public hearing before the commissioners on the proposed zoning regulations is scheduled for Sept. 22, Ahmic said.
