Wautoma Solar Project - land use and adjudication

On August 8, 2022, we held a land use consistency hearing for the Wautoma Solar project. 

On November 15, 2022, we issued Order No. 886, finding the Wautoma Solar project inconsistent with land use regulations. 

On June 20, 2024, our Council issued an order commencing adjudication to consider whether any land use plans or zoning ordinances associated with the proposed site determined to be inconsistent should be preempted.

The adjudicative proceeding took place on September 25, 2024, and resulted in the issuance of Order No. 896 on November 20, 2024, recommending preemption of local land use laws.

In preparation for the adjudicative proceeding, the Administrative Law Judge convened two pre-hearing conferences on July 22, 2024, and September 20, 2024. 

The first conference dealt with scheduling and planning for the hearing process and resulted in the July 31, 2024 issuance of a prehearing conference order and case schedule. The second conference discussed admission of exhibits and other pre-hearing matters. 

On September 5, 2024, our Council notified the public of the virtual adjudicative hearing planned for September 25. The proceeding's purpose was to determine:

1. if our Council should recommend that the Governor preempt the local jurisdiction's land use provisions; and
2. if any conditions should be included in a draft site certification agreement to address government or community interests affected by the project in the event of preemption.

On November 20, 2024, our Council issued Order No. 896 recommending preemption and defined conditions to be included in the draft site certification agreement.