Last Thursday, the joint Solar Overlay committee hosted an Open House at the Becker Community Center, where representatives of both the City and Township presented proposed maps that will be used to guide future solar farm development within both jurisdictions.

The meeting drew a trickle of residents over two hours, but representatives from both entities expect additional meetings and public hearings over the next several months as they work to adopt the proposed zoning guidelines. Once completed, the documents will serve as a guideline for land owners, utility developers and the two governmental entities as they work in conjunction on land use and planning issues related to solar farm development proposals.

According to the materials available at the meeting, “the purpose of this group is to identify appropriate locations and design standards for solar energy infrastructure that work symbiotically for the City, Township, Xcel, and other solar energy providers without jeopardizing future development potential of the City and Township. An effort like this has no precedent in Minnesota. Just as Xcel is planning and implementing for their future needs for alternative energy sources, the City and Township must take measures to responsibly plan for future growth.”

Once the committee’s work is completed, a final report will be “produced detailing the findings along with specifications for design parameters and other requirements for solar energy farms.” 

For smaller solar farms, producing fewer than 50 megawatts, the respective governmental units control the permitting process, while for larger farms in excess of 50 megawatts, the MN Public Utilities Commission has final jurisdiction.

According to City Planner Mary Roe and Community Development Director Jacob Sanders, the map will allow for consistency when entertaining development proposals.  In addition, the maps will allow for better input into any potential future PUC permitting applications should they come forward.

“We have pieces in place for solar energy in the current comprehensive plan,” Sanders explained at the open house. “But this planning process will help us go further and will give us more teeth as we evaluate new RFPs for solar development.”

Roe noted that the current city Comprehensive Plan zoning code allows for solar as an accessory use, such as rooftop panels, but not as the primary use of a parcel.

“This is our first effort to address possible solar farms,” Roe added. 

Xcel Energy spokesperson Lacey Nygard responded via email to the Patriot’s request for comment this week and noted that, “The solar overlay work being conducted by City of Becker and Becker Township is meant to be a forward-looking tool to help inform development of solar resources that better align with the City and Township development goals. Our shared goal with the City and Township is that the overlay map will help developers easily find public information when they are identifying potential project sites.”

While the results of the plan will include a zoning regulations map intended to be shared with utility companies such as Xcel, part of the study also produced Natural Resource maps that identified numerous land characteristics within the city and township, such as wetlands, tree coverages and suitability of farmlands.

Next, these maps were combined with a land use map that is outlined in the long-range planning documents for the city.  From there, the solar farm Suitability Map (see visual) was created, which identifies places where panels will be allowed or prohibited.

Sanders and Roe both emphasized that the maps aren’t finalized and there will be additional opportunities for residents of both the city and township to weigh in on the proposals.

City Administrator Greg Lerud noted, “there will be a formal comment period and both the City and Township will have public hearings” on the matter before the adoption of the maps.

When asked about current landowners that have already signed developmental leases with energy companies, the officials acknowledged that those parcels will likely be “grandfathered” in, as zoning regulations cannot be applied retroactively.

Township Supervisor and Solar Overlay committee member Luke Babler joined the three city officials at the meeting, while Mayor Tracy Bertram also was present for the beginning part of the meeting.

Residents can visit the City of Becker website to view the maps and submit comment.

Xcel Update

According to Nygard, Xcel continues to work with landowners where current leases exist even as the solar overlay group works to finalize its work.

“Xcel Energy has honored all of its leases and has not sought to renegotiate,” Nygard said. “The only leases that we are terminating before the end of the development period are parcels that the City of Becker requested to be excluded for economic development during the site permit approval process.”

Nygard also explained that the company’s 2022 Request for Proposals closed on October 7, and Xcel plans to “file for approval from the Commission in Q1 2023 for projects selected by that acquisition process.”

With the expected ratification of the solar overlay in early 2023, Nygard expects that Xcel will continue to develop solar farms in the area.

“Xcel Energy looks forward to continued collaboration with landowners and local government units on project development and resource acquisitions within Sherburne County,” Nygard said.