Rock County Commissioners issued a letter of support for the proposed 1,700-acre solar farm near Magnolia.
The support comes after township officials indicated they have no concerns about the project led by Geronimo Energy.
During the June 4 County Board meeting, officials with Edina-based Geronimo presented information about the Elk Creek Solar Project and construction plans to split into Elk Creek and Elk Creek II.
Jordan Burmeister with Geronimo Energy requested a letter of support from the county.
“If we can take care of things early on, then we’ll have a good application into the Minnesota PUC (Public Utilities Commission),” he said.
That support came after meeting with representatives from Magnolia and Vienna townships.
“We just wanted to make sure you guys are OK with it,” said County Board Chairman Greg Burger.
Brian Jonas of Vienna Township said, “We’re looking forward to it (the solar project).”
Hunter Riggs of Magnolia Township also supported the project.
Both township representatives said they talked with Geronimo, expressing concerns about township roads, mowing of ditches and weed management.
“Our main concern is what they needed from us for roads,” Jonas said. “They don’t need anything.”
Commissioners agreed to the letter of support at their June 18 meeting, citing satisfaction with Geronimo’s wind energy history in Rock County.
Geronimo also organized Prairie Rose Wind Farm in the northwest part of the county where 119 wind turbines were completed in 2012.
“Geronimo did everything they promised as far as roads and maintenance,” said County Administrator Kyle Oldre.
Geronimo later sold its interest in Prairie Rose to its partner, Enel Green Power North America, in 2012. Enel still operates the wind farm in northern Rock County.
After talking with county officials June 4, Geronimo Energy hosted an afternoon open house at Grand Prairie Events.
Government officials, landowners and surrounding neighbors to the solar farm were invited to receive more information about the solar project and ask questions.
Leases and/or land purchases with nine landowners is almost complete, Burmeister said.
The $290 million project is divided into two sites to aid the selling of the electricity, he said.
Elk Creek involves an 80-megawatt solar site located in Sections 27, 34 and 35 in Vienna Township. The farm would span 720 acres.
Elk Creek II would be a nearly 120-megawatt solar site constructed over 980 acres in Sections 33, 34 and 35 in Vienna Township and Section 3 in Magnolia Township.
As part of the state permitting process, a public hearing will take place in Rock County.
“We want to come out and speak to everyone beforehand,” said Melissa Schmit, Geronimo Energy permitting manager. “We don’t want that to be the first meeting where you hear about the project.”
After the open house, Schmit said questions centered around the project’s timeline and solar technology in general.
“We are excited about the community’s support for the project,” she said.
Permit application for Elk Creek will be filed later this summer, followed closely by Elk Creek II.
The permitting process may take up to a year to complete. The fall of 2020 is the earliest construction could begin, Burmeister said.
Both sites will be constructed simultaneously and operating by late 2021, and both connect to an existing substation in section 35 of Vienna Township.
A fence will surround the entire solar farm with pollinator-friendly vegetation planted under the panels to stabilize the soil.
An operations building will also be a part of the solar farm operations at a location yet to be determined.
Ten full-time employees will work at Elk Creek Solar Farm, which will be the largest in Minnesota at a single location.