PLATTE COUNTY — At a recent Platte County Board of Commissioners meeting, residents and county officials discussed growing concerns surrounding NextEra Energy’s proposed wind, solar and lithium battery-based solar storage project in the Chugwater area.
While the official agenda of the July 15 meeting primarily covered routine items such as budget approvals, board appointments and infrastructure updates, the undercurrent of opposition to the NextEra project surfaced during a wide-ranging discussion on the county’s planning and zoning rules and regulations.
The proposed energy project, expected to span roughly 44 thousand acres on the Iowa Flats just east of the Town of Chugwater in southeastern Platte County, has sparked public opposition.
Regular county business
The commissioners confirmed the reappointment of Bob Brockman to the county’s planning and zoning board. While this procedural item was quickly approved, it drew public commentary about the lack of geographic diversity on the board, which plays a crucial role in reviewing major industrial development proposals, like NextEra’s proposed project.
“There’s two people from Glendo (on the planning and zoning board) and nobody from the Chugwater end,” one speaker pointed out, voicing concern that southern Platte County, where the project would be located, lacks adequate representation. “I was hoping we could get someone back in who actually represents that area.”
Tensions relating to energy project
Other comments revealed simmering frustrations over what some view as rushed or opaque decision-making surrounding energy development projects. Residents questioned the effectiveness and transparency of the planning process, in light of NextEra’s presence in the region.
The company’s large-scale renewable energy proposal—which includes wind turbines, solar arrays and a lithium battery storage facility—has generated debate in Platte County for several months now. While some view it as a potential economic boost and a step toward green energy, others believe it could damage the region’s agricultural economy, wildlife habitat and rural character.
Critics also raised concerns about a perceived erosion of public input. “The bylaws for planning and zoning say meetings should be on Wednesdays, but now they’re always on Tuesdays, which is a big conflict for us,” Wheatland resident Lucinda Hutchinson said to commissioners. “It’s hard for working people or those involved in multiple public bodies to attend and voice concerns.”
The county is currently in the process of hiring a full-time planner—a role previously shared with the Town of Wheatland—which further underscores the increasing complexity and volume of development matters facing the county. However, in the meantime, Platte County commissioner Ian Jolovich is standing in as the county planner.
“There seems to be a whole lot more business that the planner would get involved in the county than there is in the town,” Platte County Commissioner chairman Steve Shockley noted. Advertising for the position has already begun.
The commissioners acknowledged the community’s concerns but took no formal action on the NextEra project during this meeting. However, several attendees indicated they plan to continue pushing for representation and more open dialogue as the project’s permitting process moves forward. Several members of the NextEra project were present at the meeting, including project manager Anthony Bianchini, as residents spoke about individual and collective concerns still not addressed by NextEra or its representatives.
Residents Lucinda Houtchens and Jill Kaufman spoke at length with commissioners Jeb Baker, Jolovich and chairman Shockley about the need to make amendments to the county planning and zoning regulations. Chugwater resident, Keith Miller, who holds a PhD in civil engineering and is on several boards in Chugwater, spoke at great detail involving his concerns relating to Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) regulations, similar to the ones proposed by NextEra. Miller brought up concerns prompted from recent explosions involving similar systems in Surprise and Chandler, Arizona. The explosion in Surprise, Arizona ended up harming several local firemen and subsequent reports indicated little to no fire training was provided to municipalities in which these systems operate. He encouraged commissioners to consider adopting protective regulations for BESS projects in Platte County.
Another local resident, Barbara Fletcher explained a number of concerns she had with the project, including the fact it would potentially disturb the peaceful surroundings and large variety of songbirds on her property, and asked the commissioners to seriously consider other options.
Ultimately, the commissioners said they are willing to reevaluate the county’s zoning and planning regulations and asked residents to send them information they can review to prepare for any necessary public meetings relating to these potential changes.
Fourth of July mishap
The Bell owner, Alexa Kennedy, and her husband briefly spoke to the commissioners about a safety concern she said will likely prevent her from hosting the Fourth of July next year at the Platte County Fairgrounds.
“We had an issue come up – everything was fine during the day – but about five o’clock, the trucks started rolling and shooting up the fireworks,” Kennedy explained. “They nearly shut down our event – we had people injured.”
Kennedy also explained some vehicles had burn-damages from the numerous groups shooting off fireworks at the fairgrounds during the event she hosted for the community.
She explained to commissioners there were numerous safety concerns in allowing residents to shoot off fireworks at the fairgrounds when it’s being rented out for an event. One group knocked over their firework launcher, which briefly caught fire and shot a firework into the nearby event crowd, narrowly missing a newborn baby and several other children.
Kennedy said The Wyoming Bell may or may not continue to host the event at the Fairgrounds; it would depend on how the county would like to address this concern in the future.
Eventually, Kennedy and the commissioners agreed, her next step would be to speak to the Town of Wheatland as it relates to her concerns of enforcement of public safety laws, because the fairgrounds are within Wheatland jurisdiction.
The next Platte County Commissioner meeting is scheduled for August 5, starting at 9 a.m. at the Platte County Courthouse inside the County Commissioner meeting room.
