Residents raise concerns over Lemon Hill Solar Project in public meeting
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Dozens of people showed up to public meetings over the future of the Lemon Hill Solar Project.
The project, pushed by energy company Ranger Power, is slated to be located outside Viola and Haverhill townships. It would take up around 1,945 acres of agricultural land, of which approximately 966 acres are proposed to be used for the operation of the project.
“It’ll be 180 megawatts, which is equivalent to about 30,000 homes worth of electricity,” Vice President Siting for Ranger Power Sergio Trevino said.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission hosted the two meetings at 125 LIVE in Rochester Wednesday. The event acted as an open house and forum to discuss the project, allowing community members to voice support or present certain concerns regarding the impacts of a project like this. It can include things such as human or environmental impact, or unique characteristics of the project site.
The information taken from these meetings will be used in the permitting process.
“We are here because we know that the community here, the landowners, know this area best, and we want that input to come to us that will make for a better decision,” PUC’s Desiree Morningstar said.
While some members of the community voice support for the jobs that could be created with the project, an overwhelming majority voiced disapproval of the plan. Farmer and Chairman of the viola Township Board Jim Klavetter took issue with the distance from other property.
“We’re talking 250 feet from residents, 50 feet from property lines. We really feel that’s insufficient as far as setbacks,” Klavetter said.
Klavetter also expanded on his concern that the Public Utilities Commission, as an appointed body, was making decisions on permitting instead of elected officials. He also noted the impacts the project may have on water supply.
“We definitely have concerns about the well water,” he said.
The area has karst geology a type of topography characterized with flat plains and drainage systems. Several community members cited concerns that digging the poles required to hold the solar panels would disturb the ground, and, over time, shift the panels and the ground.
“They’re going to be driving over 200,000 posts into the ground,” Klavetter said. “We live in a karst soil region. Karst soils are a real big issue in southeast Minnesota.”
Other members of the community expressed concerns regarding the property values of their land, if the project were to be permitted.
“I will be selling if they are to go in,” realtor Jennifer Lawver said. “I was planning on putting in a new construction, then once hearing of this project, I held off because I know it will affect my resale value. I’m not going to put another $600,000 in my cost into a property that is not going to return that value to me. Even though I’ve owned it for a considerable amount of time.”
A virtual meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday night, allowing those unable to attend in person to voice their opinion on the project.
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