Iola City Council members said thanks, but no thanks, once again to a potential solar farm to supplement the city’s energy portfolio.
Council members voted, 5-3, to reject overtures from Priority Power and POW Solar LLC to build a 4-megawatt solar plant west of the Russell Stover candy plant.
This marks the second time in three years the city has said no to such a plan.
“I don’t think we’re in a good position financially to go with this,” councilman Carl Slaugh said.
Slaugh said municipal solar projects are still relatively new. “I don’t see a lot of movement on the part of Evergy or big companies to put in solar fields, which kind of makes me question the viability … I just don’t see it as a good investment to move ahead.”
Councilman Joel Wicoff agreed.
“Looking at this proposal, if everything went just right, then we would break even,” Wicoff said. “But it would put a significant strain on our budget.”
The company would be responsible for construction costs of the $7.9 million plant, with Iola giving a $1 million down payment, and then paying $5.53 million after five years, or lower amounts every five years after that.
The $1 million down payment would have come from electric reserves dedicated to capital improvements, City Administrator Matt Rehder noted.
The advantage to the city would have been purchasing energy at a fixed cost until Iola assumed ownership, and then having a consistent source of power at minimal cost for the life of the solar farm.
Energy consultant Scott Shreve projected having the solar plant would save each Iola customer an average $25 to $30 a year.
Additionally, the city received a letter in May from Russell Stover Chocolates expressing interest in exploring the solar project, with the plant agreeing to purchase a portion of the electricity coming from the solar field.
Iola farmer Doug Strickler, who leases the land from the city on which the proposed solar farm would sit, spoke out in opposition.
“My main concern is the location.,” Strickler said. “I really don’t want a solar farm in my front yard. Granted in my front yard, I grow corn. But I’ve gotta drive by it every day. And I’ve talked to other businesses that would rather it not be there.”
Councilwoman Joelle Shallah echoed her concerns with the plant’s location, noting having a solar field there could potentially limit any other development on city-owned land in that area.
Opposing the proposal were Slaugh, Wicoff, Shallah, Mark Peters and Kim Peterson. In favor were Josiah D’Albini, Nickolas Kinder and Nich Lohman.
Monday’s vote did not slam the door shut altogether on solar discussions.
