The stretch of 200th Street west of Highway 77 is fast becoming a shortcut for people looking to play golf at the nearby Landmand Golf Club that opened a few years ago southwest of Homer.
The peaceful view along that road could soon become dotted with solar farms, which is leaving at least one couple along the road with some questions.
Dennis and Sally Reinert received information a few weeks ago about the possibility of land near their home being used by Mission Clean Energy, which is looking to build a solar farm south of Highway 35 and west of Highway 110 that would generate 360 megawatts of solar power. Two of the 30 parcels under consideration lie just north and to the southwest of their home.
“We had heard through the grapevine that (the company) was looking around the area for a place to build these solar panels,” Dennis Reinert said. “I think everybody figured it was going to be down in this swampy area to the west, but they want some good land that’s not going to flood out.”
Officials from Mission Clean Energy, responding to e-mailed questions, said that about 2,900 acres are included in the potential project, which would bring the energy generated through the public power grid that could be used for residential, commercial or industrial purposes.
“Any consumer tied to the grid is able to use that power,” the company stated. “Practically speaking, the electrons produced by the project are injected at a specific location on the grid and consumed first in the local area as they encounter (demand), regardless of the commercial arrangement between the project, public power utility and consumer.”
Company officials said that all landowners have entered into agreements with the company on the potential use of the property under consideration, and the project — which is set to begin construction in 2027 with a 2029 completion target — does not require eminent domain.
According to information from the company, the project will generate a significant amount of tax revenue to Dakota County, with a tax estimate of $94 million over the 35-40 year lifespan of the project. The majority of that money would go to Homer Community Schools.
The project is expected to employ hundreds of workers during construction that will help the local economy, with additional post-construction jobs including monitoring, maintenance and periodic mowing and landscaping.
Sally Reinert said that, compared to windmills that are running in Dixon and Wayne counties to the west, a solar farm would be a more practical option.
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I think they’re spending more energy creating the windmills and transporting and building them they they’re getting out of them, and the only energy we get for free comes from the sun,” she said. “They’re not anything to look at, but they’re not going to be on our property. We still have some questions that we’re trying to get answers to, though.”
A meeting of the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission regarding this project will be held Tuesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. at the Dakota County Road Department building just east of Hubbard at 1863 N. Bluff Road.
