'There are so many questions that need to be answered:' Evergy solar farm sent back to drawing board

Solar power? Residents who live near 4306 SW Auburn Road aren't convinced.

At least not yet.

Shawnee County commissioners sent plans for the construction of a new Evergy solar farm back to the planning commission after residents spoke out against the development.

Their properties all fall within 1,000 feet of the new solar farm. They were concerned that due diligence hadn't been taken when planning the farm.

"The gentleman (from Evergy) said he contacted us, said Thomas Kelley, a resident in the area. "Well, I've got to correct that. We've dealt with these folks before, and they didn't talk to us then."

Kelley said the first he had heard of the new solar field project was when the planning commission sent him paperwork about it.

More: Aldersgate Village gets OK to add 20 new houses, and Evergy to build solar farm

Here's what residents said about the planned solar field

Kelley's concerns go beyond the lack of communication from Evergy. Kelley and his wife are amateur radio operators. Called "hams" for short, these hobbyists actually play a critical role in times of emergency.

"Any time you have a natural disaster and the communication goes down, it's hams that establish communication," Kelley said. "When the twin towers went down, do you know who established the first communications in that area? Amateur radio operators."

Ham operators have to receive training from the FCC to legally operate. Hams also work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the National Weather Service during storm seasons.

During wildfire season, ham operators have helped coordinate rescue efforts and evacuations.

Because of their critical role, the FCC requires frequencies used by hams to be kept as free of interference as possible.

“Electromagnetic fields create a lot of noise, which is heard on the radio,” Kelley said. "There are regulations that prevent interference of our operations by electrical companies or by other companies."

Think of "noise" as static on a television or radio. Kelley said if there is a problem, it's on the company that caused it to fix it.

Jan Davis, who is not a resident of the area, spoke for a homeowner who lives next door to a future solar farm. Davis lives in Osage County, which recently placed a moratorium on new solar and wind projects.

“How can we recommend approval when there’s no regulations and when we don’t know what the downside of it is?” Davis said.

Davis expressed concern over a "solar heat island." Given the location of the solar panels and the proximity to the property of the individual she was representing, the radiative effect of 7,000-plus solar panels in close proximity concerned her.

“The heat generated from solar panels generally is about 120 degrees, you add a south wind and you get a blow furnace coming into her season room, which is 70 feet (from the solar panels),” Davis said.

Studies have shown an increase in ambient air temperatures around large-scale solar farms. Research from the University of Maryland suggests this rise in temperature is less than the increase felt by residents in an urban or industrial area feel.

The largest solar farm in Kansas is the Johnson Corner solar project. It spans 144 acres and houses 75,000 solar panels. The project off Auburn road would take up roughly one-tenth of the land, and feature 13 times fewer solar panels.

Davis said the county should take a closer look at the project.

“I just think there are so many questions that need to be answered,” she said.

What are the next steps for the solar field?

Evergy wanted to get the project done quickly. At the board of county commissioners meeting it presented a construction timeline between June and December of this year.

Now that timeline is up in the air.

In the hope to keep the project from being "grandfathered in," commissioner Kevin Cook asked that a provision be built in so the solar farm would be subject to any future regulation of solar fields.

"If we are to consider it, I would hope that we can have a provision in there that says it will be subject to any future code regulation," Cook said.

Bill Riphahn requested a one-year review take place if the board approves the project at a later date.

While another solar farm in northern Shawnee County was approved minutes after discussion on this item concluded, there are fewer people living within 1,000 feet of the area that was going to be developed.

Cook said he is more concerned about this property because of its proximity to residential areas.

"When you look at the closeness to the property ... even with the revised site plan, this is very, very close to their property," he said. "Having that property so close causes me great concern."

Alex Edwards is the local politics reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached via email at aedwards@gannett.com, or via twitter @AMEdwards21.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Here's why Evergy won't build a new solar farm off SW Auburn Road