Berkley Group is proud to have partnered with Sedgwick County, Kansas, to help shape its regulatory framework for utility-scale solar energy facilities. Our involvement resulted in comprehensive amendments to the Unified Zoning Code, bringing Sedgwick County’s policies in line with best practices for the regulation of solar development, while addressing the unique needs of the local community.
Understanding the Challenge
Sedgwick County, like many others across the nation, is witnessing growing interest in solar energy. Solar development, particularly at the utility scale, requires clear and effective regulations to balance the benefits with potential impacts on land use, infrastructure, and local communities. Recognizing this, the County sought our assistance in reviewing their Unified Zoning Code (UZC) amendments related to utility-scale solar facilities. Our role was to assess the existing and proposed regulations, identify and report on best practices, and ensure that the County’s policies adequately addressed both present and future solar projects.
Our process began with an in-depth review of the amendments recommended by the Sedwick/Wichita Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC), alongside a comprehensive analysis of relevant local policies, and discussions with County staff to understand the amendment process to-date, perspectives, and areas of interest shared from the County’s Commissioners.
Recommendations for Success
Our recommendations to the County included consideration of the following:
Addressing solar facilities and preferred design and location outcomes more specifically in the comprehensive plan;
Streamlining the structure of regulations for clearer administration and review processes;
Defining solar facilities and regulations based on the size and scale of facilities;
Setting limits on project size, proximity to municipal boundaries and urban growth areas, and design standards to minimize impacts on the community and the environment;
Expanding and enhancing application requirements;
Addressing construction mitigation; and
Enhancing decommissioning and reclamation requirements to ensure long-term land stewardship.
The Outcome: Stronger, More Effective Regulations
Sedgwick County adopted amended regulations aligning our recommendations with their local goals and values. These changes have established a more robust regulatory framework that balances the County’s goals for sustainable development with the need to protect local communities and natural resources. With these updates, the County is now well-positioned to accommodate future solar energy projects while safeguarding the interests of its residents.
Berkley Group is proud of our role in helping Sedgwick County navigate the complexities of utility-scale solar energy regulation. Our collaboration ensured that the County’s regulations reflect regulatory best practices while addressing the unique challenges and opportunities posed by solar development.
As the momentum for installing solar energy nationwide continues to grow, we look forward to further assisting local governments in adopting policies and regulations that balance community interests and well thought out land use planning practices with the promotion of renewable energy and economic development goals.
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