Despite delays, solar farms ready to shine
Staff writer
It hasn’t been all blue skies for Hillsboro’s and Marion’s proposed solar farms since the cities agreed to lease the land to Kansas Power Pool in late 2023.
The solar farms have faced lengthy bureaucratic roadblocks, and the opening date for the farms is now June 2026, a year and a half later than planned.
But the sun has been shining brighter recently.
According to KPP chief operating officer James Ging, there is just one step to go before construction can begin.
“We’re waiting for some releases from USDA for the environmental studies,” Ging said. “Once we have that, we’ll be able to start.”
Marion’s solar farm will be just north of the county transfer station. Hillsboro’s will be just west of its wastewater facility on Kanza Rd. and 200th St.
The farms will cover about six acres each.
Because of tax credits KPP is receiving — and a $35 million government loan subsidizing the project — the projects are subject to federal regulations, including environmental reviews to make sure surrounding land is not impacted.
The reviews, beginning 10 months ago, have been lengthy and extensive. KPP even had to hire an archeologist to dig around the Hillsboro site in case there were historical artifacts below the dirt.
He did not find any, Ging said.
Ging expects the environmental reviews to come back clean.
Still, USDA has been taking its time. KPP’s last comments were presented around Christmastime, Ging said.
The delay is just one more in a project full of them.
Hillsboro city administrator Matt Stiles said in January, 2024, that he hoped Hillsboro’s solar farm might be operational by the end of 2024. Ging now says it will take until June 2026.
“There were delays with USDA getting the final reports, some questions about whether or not it was going to move forward, and some delays sourcing the materials,” Stiles said.
The amount of time USDA is taking is partially attributable to a change in presidential administration, and President Trump’s pause Jan. 27 on U.S. grant funding.
The pause was halted by a judge the next day but nonetheless backed things up.
Ging is slightly concerned the administration might pause funding again. However, because the project began in 2024, “all indications are that we have safe harbor,” he said.
While solar farms won’t be dominating the county electric grid anytime soon, they will be pretty powerful.
Each will produce one megawatt of energy a month at their peak. That’s enough to power about 250 homes for the same period.
In addition to adding more capacity to cities they serve, the farms will be “a hedge for rising costs” and a buffer during peak usage hours, Ging said.
The Southwest Power Grid requires its electric utility to have 116% of its capacity secured, Ging said, in case there is a surge in usage.
A hot summer day when everyone is cranking the air conditioning is the most obvious example.
The solar farms will be called upon in those instances.
“It’s like putting more gas in the tank,” Stiles said.
The farms will not produce as much energy in cloudy or wintery weather (though snow reflects a surprising amount of light and can provide power). However, people tend to use less electricity in winter.
“We are a summer-peaking utility,” Ging said.
When the county’s farms are operational, residents may reap the rewards of cheaper bills.
But with the Trump administration favoring coal and natural gas, solar farms may become less viable in the future — and solar energy isn’t profitable without subsidies.
The KPP project’s “when” could still become an “if”.
“I’m not counting those chickens until I get the check,” Stiles said.