McKenzie County denies controversial Cattle Creek Solar Farm permit, developer remains hopeful
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
The McKenzie County Planning and Zoning Commission recently rejected a conditional use permit application for the proposed $280 million Cattle Creek Solar Farm. The decision was made after local landowners raised concerns about the project’s potential impact on the environment. The unanimous vote was reached despite the developers’ (ibV Energy Partners) submission of its documentation for proposed modifications to address community anxieties.
The Cattle Creek Solar Farm project, planned to generate up to 150 megawatts (MW) across approximately 850 acres near Arnegard, was halted after the Commission considered a petition carrying 391 signatures in opposition. Local landowners and ranchers strongly objected to the large-scale industrial facility, primarily citing environmental hazards such as the potential for solar panels to spark wildfires and the irreversible loss of valuable grazing land.
In the weeks leading up to the final decision, ibV Energy Partners, with Eric Wedesky as their Senior Project Developer, attempted to provide assurances. Wedesky acknowledged the challenge of presenting such a substantial project, especially from an outside company, but said that his company had provided all documentation “in good faith”. Following a previous meeting, the company provided exhaustive written responses to public comments addressing key areas of contention. Regarding fears of poor reclamation, a problem often associated with “legacy developments,” the company stressed its commitment to strict compliance, stating, “Cattle Creek is committed to working with the stakeholders, agencies, and community members to provide the necessary assurances to leave reclaimed areas in pre-existing conditions and to the satisfaction of the county.
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