Following directive from the Board of County Commissioners (the Governing Body) the Shawnee County Planning Commission began work at its February 10, 2025 meeting to write a set of regulations relating to the development of commercial/utility scale solar energy in Shawnee County. The Planning Commission approved a set of draft regulations during its July 2025 meeting.
The following are highlights of those draft regulations:
- Personal Solar Energy Conversion Systems (SECS) were, and remain, allowed in any zone upon approval of a building permit.
- All other types of SECS projects are allowed upon approval of a conditional use permit within Zones RA-1, 1-1 and 1-2, except in specified areas as set out in the regulations.
- No single SECS Project can exceed 240 acres. As a point of comparison, Douglas County has approved regulations allowing for solar projects of up to 1,000 acres and Johnson County has approved regulations allowing for projects of up to 2,000 acres.
- The regulations also provide that no SECS project area boundary shall be nearer than two miles to any other SECS project. That distance shall be measured in a straight line from the closest project area boundary of one SECS to the boundary area of any other SECS.
- The regulations state that battery storage systems built as an appurtenance facility to an SECS project are prohibited.
- The regulations also state that the Governing Body may vary or waive the minimum requirements set forth in the regulations upon written request of the Applicant and a determination of the Governing Body that said waiver or modification is consistent with the purpose and intent of these regulations.
- The regulations also provide for certain setbacks.
Written and submitted by Marc Galbraith
