Solar project battles county restrictions

Construction is scheduled to begin this month. That didn’t stop Union County from tabling Alliant Energy’s battery expansion project, which will not be revisited until Wednesday, May 20.

The Creston Solar and Battery Energy Storage System project has been in motion since 2022 when Union County first received application for the solar and battery systems. In 2023, Alliant received their construction permit for the system, which generates 40 megawatts, and the battery energy storage system, planned for 25 MWs.

A BESS system stores energy for when the solar field is unable to generate energy. This allows for a steady energy flow even during fluctuations.

The foundation for the BESS system broke ground in 2024, with plans to start mobilization on the project area this month as equipment is delivered to the site. The site, located east of Creston, already generates energy through an extensive solar field.

Sean Keenan, a member of resource development at Alliant, said construction was set for a six-month timeline, with the BESS operational by December, if construction can start on time.

Part of the reason for the delay in decision was to give time for the board to properly look over Alliant’s amendment. The board received a hefty packet of information for the amendment during Wednesday’s meeting and said they will look through it in the coming weeks.

The major amendment of the construction permit expands the MW operating capacity of the facility from 25 MWs to 40 MWs. The space of the facility remains the same, along with the footprint. The amendment seeks additional equipment to facilitate the increased capacity.

Union County Engineer Christian Boehmer outlined the updated plans to the board when introducing the amendment to the board. Fifty-six battery containers and 14 inverters would be installed, with each container holding 40 battery modules, consistent across other projects in the Midwest. Each container is about 20-feet by 8-feet.

Alliant Energy said decommissioning the project, either at end-of-service or any other reason, would cost about $1.757 million, which covers salvage costs and disposal fee. Alliant presented this plan as a parental guarantee, which would require Alliant to cover the cost of decommissioning.

Emergency plans have been submitted, with Alliant holding discussions with Union County Emergency Management and the Creston Fire Department. EMA Coordinator Paul Ver Meer attended Wednesday’s meeting and confirmed his approval of the plan.

Still, concerns remain with the county for public safety. The original construction permit waived any setback restrictions.

Lithium battery fires provide unique challenges and are more difficult to extinguish. In case of a fire at the BESS, the fire department would need to extinguish the fire while also managing the health risks from harmful emissions.

Supervisor Rick Friday noted the county’s moratorium on solar energy systems. He said that, due to the amendment expanding the scope of the project, the county couldn’t approve the amendment.

“This amendment would be under our current moratorium, and it does fall outside the scope of the original permit,” Friday said. “I’ll ask [Alliant] one more time before we move forward; would you consider a different location?’”

Keenan answered immediately. “No.”

The moratorium was put in place due to concerns from the county supervisors on taxation, citing the need for definitive numbers in order to appropriately approve projects. Estimates, the board said, would not do.

Friday said the placement of the facility concerned him, something Supervisor Dennis Hopkins agreed with. With no additional increase in generation which could potentially increase a generation tax for the county, expanding the project’s storage wasn’t appealing.

“The placing is something that’s a concern to me,” Hopkins said. “And quite honestly, I struggle with it being no benefit. Why does the county assume more risk? And understanding that the risk is probably minimal, it’s still an additional risk. So I’m not sure why we would want to assume more risk.”

The Environmental Protection Agency reports a decrease in failure incidents at BESS locations, owing in part to an increase in grid development. In 2024, only eight incidents were reported.

Sarah Franklin, an attorney representing Alliant, argued that, due to the same footprint and location already approved in the construction permit, the amendment to add more containers wouldn’t be breaking any restrictions set by the county moratorium.

Franklin also said the benefits to the county through renewable energy generation would be seen, even if the full numbers are only estimates. She said the amendment would not be a “change in character.”

“I think generally we benefit from additional sources of renewable energy and that the eventual tax benefits of the solar field will already be realized by the county,” Franklin said.

Keenan said Alliant will construct the 25 MW BESS if the amendment is not approved, saying they will continue to work on the path to increase it to 40.

“We’re still under a moratorium and I don’t know if the board is in a position to lift that at this time,” Friday said “We’ve not got the information that we need from the state, and that’s been in the works for a couple years.”

In other Union County news...

Union County scheduled a public hearing for Ordinance 76 — Industrial Abatement, which will authorize partial property tax exemptions for certain classes of industrial property, such as new construction or expansions to industrial real estate, research-service facilities, warehouses, distribution centers and machinery/equipment.

The exemption specifically mentions cattle facilities and feedlots. If approved, the ordinance would likely encourage development in the county area for industrial services.

Exemption from taxes will be set at a five year schedule, 75% for the first year and decreasing by 15% for each subsequent year. The county will hold the public hearing on May 20.

Traffic is now open on Green Valley Road. Union County Roads still have some work left to do on the road which leads to Green Valley State Park from Creston, but visitors can now access the park without taking detours.