News that Acciona Energia has dropped out of a solar energy project in Barton County was greeted as good news for Cheyenne Bottoms, according to Dr. Dan Witt. The Hoisington resident spoke at Tuesday’s Barton County Commission meeting. The project is back in the hands of Tenaska, another solar energy company that originated the project.
Witt’s main concern about a solar project is the preservation of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area.
“The Bottoms are safe right now,” Witt said. The county commission deserves some of the credit, he added.
“You all started it with that 2-mile limit. I was frosted because I wanted five miles, but as I understand your job, you don’t just represent what I think is right. You represent everybody, and those landowners and investors absolutely deserve the opportunity and privilege of pursuing their dream just like we did ours.”
Witt mentioned Judy Goreham, Barton County’s environmental manager and zoning administration.
He also credited women who spoke at Great Bend City Council meetings, describing the potential dangers and environmental concerns of commercial solar projects. Paula Manweiler, Leslie Barrett and Julie Stielestra were mentioned.
“I’m so proud of them. When they cracked Great Bend and made Great Bend adhere to your regulations, I think that turned it,” he said. “I think losing some of the green money had something to do with it too – I don’t know – but we’re in a better place, and y’all made it happen, and I’m grateful.”
Witt said the Acciona representative put him in contact with Mike Roth, who will be the primary contact with Tenaska. Witt offered to take Roth on a tour of Cheyenne Bottoms, and Roth said he is from Salina and has been there many times.
He also said Rep. Sherri Brantley is developing a proclamation that will make Cheyenne Bottoms a historical site.
Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson said one of the things he is most proud is the months of work that went into developing solar regulations for the county.
“When we started that, we had community members in here pretty much with pitchforks – and they were aimed at each other. They weren’t really aimed at us yet, but they were aimed at each other. By the time we were done, those same people shook hands and were neighbors again.”
The work was done by the Planning Commission and ultimately adopted by the commission.
Prior the Tuesday’s meeting, the Great Bend Tribune attempted to contact Acciona, Tenaska, Great Bend Economic Development, and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce with questions about recent changes in the project. The only reply to date has come from Tenaska, and is included in the adjacent story.
Tenaska returns to Barton County
Back in 2019, an energy company based out of Omaha, Neb., was in the initial stages of developing a 150-megawatt solar project in Barton County. Area landowners were contacted about possibly leasing land to Tenaska, a company with more than 30 years of experience in the energy industry.
That project was later turned over to another company, Acciona Energia. Recently, the project has returned to Tenaska.
The Great Bend Tribune contacted Mike Roth, senior director of development at Tenaska, who provided the following information.
Tenaska originally initiated these projects, and we are excited to be back working in Barton County. We have remained optimistic about solar here, albeit with a different timeline than originally anticipated. A variety of factors – from interconnection delays, the COVID-19 pandemic and panel supply challenges – have impacted the development schedule. As Tenaska takes the helm, we will determine a viable path forward.
A few things to know about Tenaska:
• We are an American energy company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
• We’ve been in business for more than 35 years and have a record of successful project development that spans natural gas, wind, solar, batteries and more.
• We take pride in developing projects that are safe and environmentally responsible, with an eye toward being a good business neighbor.
As our work progresses, we will have more details to share. In the meantime, you can learn more about Tenaska and our approach online at https://renewables.tenaska.com/.
