Barton County, KS — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

Barton County KS: setback requirements under development (2024). Planning Commission drafting commercial solar ordinance — no adopted setbacks yet. WILDLIFE SETBACK PROPOSALS from environmental groups: ≥2-mile no-build zone around Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands proposed (not yet adopted). Cheyenne Bottoms: Ramsar Convention internationally recognized wetland; Central Flyway migration corridor; whooping cranes, waterfowl. USACE §404: any wetland fill requires Army Corps permit. Ducks Unlimited, KDWPT recommendations expected in draft ordinance. Until ordinance adopted: general agricultural district setbacks apply (typically ≥50–100 ft from property lines under general KS county practice). Sunflower Electric Power serves Barton County (SPP grid). Verify directly with Barton County Environmental Manager Judy Goreham for latest status.

Barton County: commercial solar ordinance under development as of 2024. No CUP approved yet for Acciona Energy project. Sunflower Electric Power serves Barton County.

Cautious/neutral — rural Kansas county; no documented solar board votes or organized opposition on public record as of Mar 2026.

Kansas counties retain full zoning authority over solar siting (no state preemption); R-majority rural board typical of Kansas plains counties; SPP grid territory; limited utility-scale solar development in region to date.

Stable

No statewide siting preemption for utility-scale solar. County-level conditional use permits (CUPs) required. Significant local opposition emerging: Sedgwick Co. moratorium 2023-2024; Butler Co. banned solar in Flint Hills 2023; Harvey Co. banned large utility solar. Some counties have quarter-mile or half-mile setback buffers (Kearney Co.; Gage Co.).

No Kansas RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard). Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) approves utility-scale cost recovery. Kansas Sky Energy Center (Douglas County, 159 MW) approved by KCC July 7 2025 ($228M, Evergy). SPP (Southwest Power Pool) grid. No property tax exemption for solar. Evergy (formerly Westar + KCP&L) serves eastern KS; Sunflower Electric serves western KS.

Acciona Energy USA proposed commercial solar farm in north-central Barton County near Cheyenne Bottoms (internationally recognized wetland on Central Flyway; Ramsar Convention recognized) | highly controversial: environmental groups oppose due to wildlife/migratory bird impacts | Barton County Planning Commission spent 1+ year drafting commercial solar zoning regulations | (KAKE Nov 2024). Sunflower Electric Power serves Barton County. No confirmed operational utility-scale solar as of Mar 2026.

Acciona Energy USA Barton County solar proposal: intense opposition from wildlife advocates (Ducks Unlimited, bird migration concerns) regarding proximity to Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands. Planning Commission developing regulations as of 2024 before any permit approved.