SHASTA POWER ENDS PLANS FOR CRAWFORD COUNTY SOLAR FARM
CRAWFORD COUNTY, Kan. (KOAM) — A proposed $500 million solar farm and battery storage project in Crawford County will no longer move forward.
Shasta Power announced this week it has discontinued development of the project after four years of planning, community outreach and negotiations with local officials.
In a statement, the company said the project would have represented an estimated $500 million investment in Crawford County. Shasta said the development was expected to generate about $77 million in county tax revenue over its 30-year lifespan, along with an additional $20 million in payments to neighboring property owners, the city of Mulberry and local fire departments.
The company blamed its decision on what it described as a lack of support from county leaders.
“Actions and positions taken by the Crawford County Commission and the zoning board created a regulatory environment that has blocked a reasonable or predictable path forward for the project,” the statement said.
The announcement ends years of debate surrounding large-scale solar development in Crawford County.
Supporters argued the project would create jobs, increase local tax revenue and provide direct payments to nearby residents. During previous public meetings, Shasta representatives said surveys of adjacent property owners showed a majority supported the project.
Opponents raised concerns about transparency, land use, property values and the long-term impact of utility-scale solar development in the county.
The project also faced regulatory hurdles. County leaders previously said Crawford County’s comprehensive plan had expired and lacked detailed guidance for wind and solar developments. As a result, officials imposed a moratorium on new solar projects while work continued on updating county planning documents.
Even after the moratorium is lifted, county officials have emphasized approval of the project was never guaranteed and would still require review by the Planning and Zoning Board and the County Commission.
Shasta said it worked with residents and stakeholders over the past four years to address concerns and modify its proposal. However, the company ultimately concluded continued investment in the project was not justified.
“While we are disappointed that Crawford County residents will not realize the economic benefits associated with this investment, we respect the authority of local elected officials to determine the future of development within their jurisdiction,” the company said.
No additional solar project applications connected to Shasta Power are currently pending before Crawford County officials.
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