Muhlenberg County solar project moves forward after conditional approval
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WBKO) — A proposed solar energy project in Muhlenberg County has cleared a major hurdle, but not without restrictions meant to protect neighbors and the environment.
According to the Kentucky Public Service Commission, the state’s Electric Generation and Transmission Siting Board has granted Lost City Renewables LLC conditional approval to build a 250-megawatt solar farm on roughly 1,400 acres of land.
The project calls for about 400,000 solar panels connected to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s substation at 2557 Lost City Road in Lewisburg through a nearly 11-mile, 161 kilovolt transmission line.
However, the approval came with a long list of rules. Among them:
- Setbacks: Solar panels must be at least 150 feet away from homes, churches, and schools, and 25 feet from property lines.
- Noise and hours: Construction is limited to daytime hours, with noisier work further restricted.
- Safety and security: Lost City Renewables must install fencing, train local first responders, and control access to the site.
- Environmental measures: The company must plant native vegetation to help screen the project and provide habitat for pollinators.
- Decommissioning: A bond must be posted to ensure that all equipment is removed and the land restored when the facility is no longer in use.
Project representatives have promised the future site would provide power to 10,000 homes, generate at least 500 jobs during construction and make a sizeable contribution to local tax revenues.
A final site layout plan must be submitted to the Siting Board once the final site design is completed, prior to construction.
Case documents and full details of the board’s decision are available on the PSC’s website under docket number 2024-00406.
Copyright 2025 WBKO. All rights reserved.