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Zoning and Economic Development
Committee Discusses Omnibus Energy Bill and Viper Mine Closure Grant
[June 04, 2025]
On Monday, June 2nd, the Zoning
and Economic Development Committee of the larger Logan County Board
met for their monthly meeting. Four of the five committee members
were present. This included Chairman Michael DeRoss, Vice Chairman
Kathy Schmidt, Joseph Kuhlman, and Bob Sanders. Hannah Fitzpatrick
was not in attendance. Also present were board members Lance Conahan,
Kevin Knauer, and Jim Wessbecher, Zoning Officer Al Green, Chris
Buse with Lincoln Rural Fire, and Assistant State’s Attorney Hilary
Heinsdal.
To read what occurred at the start of this meeting, including
battery storage in the county and the new home occupations
ordinance, please read LDN’s other
article on this meeting.
After the home occupations ordinance issue was finished being
discussed, DeRoss then got into the last item on new business, which
was recent legislation. DeRoss stated that the energy omnibus bill,
among other things, would take virtually all control of both wind
and solar farms from the counties. Counties would have very little
say in this matter. DeRoss reached out to Representative Bill Hauter
for information on if this bill was passed, but was unable to
determine if this was the case. DeRoss stated that many people were
being “tight-lipped” on what passed.
After this brief update, Green then
moved on to his Zoning Officer report, starting with the energy
transition grant. This grant was created due to the closure of the
Viper Mine in Elkhart and Williamsville. According to Green, the
applications for this grant have been released, but they have a very
short window. All applications would have one month to apply. Green
stated that there is a possibility that this could be extended, but
at the moment, the deadline stands at June 30th at 5:00 p.m.
As for who is eligible for this grant, Green stated that any taxing
body can apply, but they must be within thirty miles of the former
Viper Mine. This includes communities and school districts. Green
also shared that, if approved, all applicants get $25,000. From
there, the state will see what projects the applicants are wanting
to do with the money they would get. With this information, the
applicant would get an additional amount to be put toward their
proposed projects. Green also shared that the state has $40 million
to hand out, and will be doing so for six years. Each year, the
county can reapply and get at least $25,000, if not more.
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Green then stated
that, to apply, the taxing body has to have a state ID number.
For applicants that do not have one, they have been using county
ID numbers. Communities can apply themselves, or they can apply
with their county. The state has informed people, however, that
in cases like this, it is up to the county to decide who gets
how much money if they do not give them enough to cover
everything in their application. The committee members then
stated that they need to get the word out about this application
to all communities and taxing bodies in Logan County. DeRoss
also suggested that all board members attend an informational
webinar that is going to cover this topic soon.
Green then got into his Zoning Officer
report. He stated that the zoning office had issued fourteen
building permits in the month of May. This included ten solar
projects, two homes, and two garages. He then shared that the Top
Hat maintenance/laydown yard has been approved. The personal solar
ordinance was passed as well. They have started the process for
Sugar Creek to build a solar farm near their wind farms. There has
been a conditional use permit issued for another solar data center
behind Aldi off Woodlawn Road in Lincoln.
Green then talked about two new solar projects that will be starting
soon. One will be located near Mt Pulaski and the other will be near
“the intersection of the interstate outside of town.” Green
continued, stating that these two will be going through regional
planning and the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) before coming to the
board’s Workshop meeting on June 12th. Green also shared that a
pyrotechnics storage permit is going to be going through planning
and the ZBA and will be before the board on the 12th as well. Green
wrapped up his report, and then DeRoss called for a motion to
adjourn.
[Matt Boutcher]
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