Solar energy projects deliver meaningful benefits to local communities, and Osage County is well-positioned for solar development.
Given its existing high-voltage transmission lines, the county can support locally generated energy without new transmission infrastructure. Solar energy is critical to meeting the growing energy demand. For every 10 megawatts of energy produced by solar, it can power 1,800 homes.
Solar development potential benefits:
- New property tax revenue generation for local priorities
- Job creation and support for local businesses during construction
- Additional energy production without requiring new high-voltage transmission infrastructure
Solar development can provide significant revenue for local governments. During construction, workers often spend money at nearby restaurants, convenience stores, and hotels, increasing local sales tax revenue. In Kansas, energy development and construction also support thousands of jobs, strengthening rural economies.
Upon construction, solar projects generate property tax revenue that can help fund roads, bridges, schools, emergency services, and community improvements.
Solar panels are designed to be compact and sit low to the ground, with minimal to no visibility for Osage County residents, who are unlikely to see them from their homes or in their daily routines. That helps renewable energy production coexist with the county’s rural character. For farmers and ranchers, annual land lease payments can provide a steady income through droughts, floods, and changing commodity prices. And when the project is retired, the land can return to agricultural use.
For Osage County, new solar development offers a practical way to support local growth and investment and strengthen the tax base without placing the burden on the Osage County taxpayer.
Paid for by Sound American Solutions.
