Saline County Commission Overturns Planning Board's Unanimous Approval of Battery Storage Project

In a 4-1 vote Tuesday, the Saline County Commission overturned the Planning Commission's unanimous approval of a battery energy storage system (BESS) proposed by Mountain Peak Energy Storage LLC, also known as Plus Power.

The decision came after residents submitted a petition representing approximately 80 parcels and more than 3,896 acres within the two-mile notification area of the proposed site, located at the southeast corner of McReynolds Road and Simpson Road.

The Planning Commission had previously voted 8-0 to approve the conditional use permit (CUP 25-09) following a November 25 public hearing. However, county regulations allow affected property owners to appeal such decisions if they gather signatures representing at least 20% of the notification area.

The petition represented approximately 31% of the total notification area.

During Tuesday's hearing, multiple residents expressed concerns about public safety, emergency response capabilities, and potential environmental impacts.

"The community has spoken. Within a two-mile radius of the CUP, 80 parcels signed the protest petition. This is 50 landowners' signatures," said Brooke Swisher, who filed the appeal. 

Mitch Robinson, Executive Director of the Salina Community Economic Development Organization, spoke in support of the project, noting it would bring significant investment to the county.

"As the county's economic development organization, we are in support of this major investment within the county," Robinson said. "We also look at this investment as an investment in energy infrastructure."

Commissioner Hay cited several concerns before making the motion to deny the permit, including insufficient setbacks, proximity to water sources, and inadequate liability insurance coverage.

"I think it would be a sad day that we vote against the folks that elected us to do the right thing," Hay said. "When we have meetings and this room is full of residents that are telling us we do not want this, I feel we have an obligation to vote the way the residents ask us to do."

Commissioners Shadwick, Grevas, Sparks, and Hay voted to deny the permit, while Commissioner Weese cast the lone dissenting vote.