SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / KS / Pottawatomie

Pottawatomie County, KS — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Local solar ordinance barriers, board sentiment, and utility policies that affect development timelines and risk.

100
Risk Grade
Fail
Pottawatomie County enacted a 3-year solar moratorium in November 2023 blocking utility-scale development through November 2026; despite above-average income and population growth, the county commission has aligned with the statewide conservative movement against large-scale solar.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
24530
State Rank
#20
Compliance
48%
Trajectory
53

Moratorium Status

⚠ Active Moratorium
Active — 3-Year Moratorium (Nov 2023 – Nov 2026)

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
N/A during moratorium. Solar gardens ≤16 acres must comply with A1 district setback standards.
Zoning Mechanism
Moratorium in effect Nov 27 2023 – ~Nov 2026. Utility-scale CUP applications not accepted. Solar gardens (≤16 acres) permitted in A1 Agriculture district.
Acreage Caps
Solar gardens limited to ≤16 acres during moratorium period. No utility-scale projects allowed until moratorium expires ~November 2026.
Density Caps
No utility-scale solar allowed during moratorium. Small solar gardens ≤16 acres permitted.
Spacing Rules
N/A during moratorium.
Size Restrictions
During moratorium: ≤16 acres for solar gardens allowed. Utility-scale (>16 acres) banned through ~Nov 2026.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Opposed — board extended 3-year moratorium (Nov 27, 2023) on utility-scale solar; small-scale solar gardens permitted.
Basis for Assessment
R-majority rural Kansas county; uncertain financial benefits and property rights concerns cited; moratorium extended to allow research and regulation development; SPP grid territory.
Political Risk Factors
Worsening
Board Members
Pat Weixelman | R | Commissioner | Voted YES on moratorium | Greg Riat | R | Commissioner | Voted YES on moratorium | Dee McKee | R | Commissioner | Voted NO on moratorium | 4-yr staggered terms | Partisan elections

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
SPP (Southwest Power Pool)
Utilities
Evergy Kansas Central
State Permitting Process
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.).
State Incentives
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.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Pottawatomie County 3-year moratorium on utility-scale solar projects in effect as of November 27 2023 (Resolution 2023-60 signed Nov 27 2023, expires ~Nov 2026). Small-scale solar gardens (≤16 acres) permitted in A1 Agriculture district. Bluestem Electric Cooperative serves Pottawatomie County area (Pottawatomie County website confirmed).
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
Pottawatomie County: active 3-year solar moratorium for commercial/utility-scale solar (Nov 27 2023 through ~Nov 2026). No specific project denials on record — moratorium blocks all new applications during this period.

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Last verified: Mar 2026 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes