For now, those big wind turbine parts seen in transit on the interstate and Seward County highways will keep passing through.
The Seward County Commissioners extended its August 2023 moratorium on commercial renewable energy systems for another six months at its Jan. 6 meeting.
But Commission Chair Misty Ahmic said the revised zoning regulations with which the county will regulate renewable energy systems should be finalized soon. The Seward County attorney’s office is now reviewing zoning topics added to the revised regulations prior to the commissioners’ final review.
The moratorium language indicates the commission recognizes the significance of renewable energy in advancing environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. But it says such projects should align with community infrastructure and the county’s comprehensive plan and cannot be approved before the new regulations are in place.
It defines commercial renewable energy projects to include connected solar conversions systems capacity of 500 kilowatts or more for a community or power grid, any wind energy conversion system under aggregated ownership or operating control that includes substations, towers, cables or other building accessories for the purpose of supplying off-site customers with electricity, and any other renewable energy conversion system designed for converting energy to any community, power grid or off-site customers.
Commissioners Ahmic, Darrell Zabrocki and Ken Schmieding approved the extended moratorium at the meeting. Commissioners Raegan Hain and Scott Pekarek were absent.
Also at the Jan. 6 meeting, the commissioners approved plans to have the Seward County Historical Society and Museum’s request for tax funding appear on the November ballot.
Nebraska law allows nonprofit county historical associations or societies to levy up to three-tenths of one cent on each $100 if county voters endorse that in an election.
Doug Brand appeared before the commissioners to speak for the historical society and said the group’s collections and facilities in Goehner are maintained by a small group of volunteers with donations from those who visit or otherwise support the society.
The tax option will enable the group to maintain, upgrade and modernize exhibits in the future.
The museum shares the unique history of Seward County through exhibits and collections in the main museum, railroad and automobile collections, an historic school house, farmstead and other on-site facilities.
The November ballot will also include a similar request from the Seward Blue River Historical District, a nonprofit organization with ongoing efforts to develop a five-acre historical district southeast of Seward and preserve an 1866 Seward County Log Cabin, develop a hiking trail and create an information center related to local agricultural history, the forced march of Chief Standing Bear along the Blue River and the importance of tall grass prairie.
In other action, the commissioners:
• Approved the Seward County portion of documentation ending the county’s interlocal agreement for emergency management preparedness with York County, which for the past 17 years allowed the two counties to share the emergency management director’s full-time salary and service.
• Opened three bids for fencing at the Missile Base shops used by the Department of Roads, which will be returned to the commissioners with a recommended contract at a later date.
• Deferred a scheduled executive session to a later date.
