By Allison Peck | North Platte Post
North Platte, NE – A commercial solar farm is moving closer to reality near Victoria Lane and East State Farm Road after the North Platte City Council approved a conditional use permit at its first meeting of 2026.
Mayor Brandon Kelleher said the decision came after careful discussion and several conditions to ensure the project benefits the city. “The developer has to come back with a contract…basically showing who the power is gonna be sold to,” Kelleher explained. “It gets very long, but the solar power farm has to connect into the grid somewhere. Most likely it will connect to the city of North Platte, which then transfers power to NPPD. Then it could go wherever it needs to go from there.”
The council’s approval requires that the developer finalize contracts outlining the destination and sale of the electricity before construction begins. “It is possible that this group may have a local customer,” Kelleher said. “In that case, the power would connect to the city of North Platte’s local grid, and then be transferred over to whoever the customer is in town. One of the stipulations in this is that we know who that is before the construction begins.”
The solar project is expected to be a financial benefit to the city, with Kelleher noting the potential for a “wheeling fee”—a payment for carrying the electricity from the solar farm to its point of delivery. “It won’t cost the city anything and we’ll be paid a wheeling fee,” he said. “So it’s more than likely a good deal for the city, but we’ll have to see the contracts and it’s all said and done.”
The council’s approval represents a step forward in North Platte’s renewable energy development, balancing economic opportunity with careful oversight to ensure city residents benefit from the project. Construction will not begin until contracts are finalized, and the city will monitor the connection to the grid closely.
Mayor Kelleher encouraged residents to follow future council meetings for updates on the project and other city developments.