Cherokee County is attempting countywide zoning to prevent a renewable energy project from coming to the area.
Clearway Energy (Clearway) proposed a solar energy project in Cherokee County in July. The Rainbow Springs Solar project consists of 225-megawatt solar panels. The project has been met with opposition from local residents and county commissioners. Two of the three Cherokee County commissioners had no official comment but said they were against it.
In response, Clearway presented a commitment to regulate the project — promising to repair infrastructure and land damaged during construction. The energy company will also provide $5 million in unrestricted funds to Cherokee County over 10 years, becoming one of the county’s largest taxpayers.
Clearway’s Head of External Affairs Barry Matchett says they’re being flexible despite opposition.
“But for some reason, they're not particularly interested in solar. They're holding out hope that a different kind of industry will come to Cherokee and provide that kind of economic development,” he added.
According to Matchett, Cherokee County is paying an outside consultant to determine how to zone the entire county. The commissioners still showed interest in countywide zoning, despite Clearway presenting their own solution.
Polling commissioned by Clearway found a vast majority of residents opposed the countywide zoning rules.
A press release about the agreement says self-zoning provides an alternative that enforces requirements for the solar farm only, without limiting how other residents use their property.
“That should provide the board and their constituents, the residents of Cherokee County, a lot of assurances that the project will be developed the right way,” Matchett said.
The passage of the Trump Administration’s Big Beautiful Bill ended tax incentives for solar and wind energy projects, resulting in increasing costs for consumers. The project is still slated to begin in 2027, despite the Bill’s passage.
The solar farm will be in Columbus, Kansas, if approved. Area resident Toni Spieth is in favor of the project and renewables in the area.
“I just really believe we have to find alternative sources of energy, and that just depending on Big Oil is foolish on our part, and I don't want to stay in the dark ages, and that's what I feel like we're doing,” explained Spieth.
After attending town halls about the Rainbow Springs Solar project, she realized many residents were against the project.
Wichita State University released an economic impact study for the proposed solar project. The study revealed the Rainbow Springs Solar project would bring $38 million in new revenue for local government and $532 million in growth across the local economy during construction.
Craig Compton with the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University says there are economic benefits to green energy projects.
“The increase in that supply curve can serve to reduce the cost,” he said.
Currently in Kansas, 48% of energy generation comes from wind and solar, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Many counties surrounding Cherokee County have at least one source of renewable energy. Nearby Crawford County has wind farms along the highway.
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