Natrona County Planning & Zoning Commissioners - October 13, 2026

The Natrona County Planning and Zoning Commission’s regular meeting on October 13, 2026, focused primarily on CUP 26-05, the DynaSolar (acquired by NextEra Energy Resources) project. The applicant requested an extension of the construction deadline to March 3, 2029, and approval to reduce the project area from about 3,591 to 2,396 acres, eliminate the second construction phase, and proceed with a 240-MW solar facility and 240-MW battery storage system. The applicant cited interconnection costs, utility network upgrades, and market conditions. It estimated $4.6 million in property taxes in the first full operating year and $21.6 million in state and local sales and use taxes during construction, and described proposed bridge-funding agreements for Natrona County Fire and the City of Mills. Commissioners discussed access-road condition and maintenance; existing CUP conditions require county-road-standard improvements during construction and restoration after decommissioning. The Commission unanimously recommended approval to the Board of County Commissioners, with existing findings incorporated; this was an advisory recommendation, not final approval.

The Commission also reviewed a proposed zoning text amendment that could allow case-by-case variances to minimum lot sizes where a substantial natural or man-made obstacle creates a hardship; it was out for public comment and no vote was taken. CUP 26-06 for Genesis Custom Chemical was untabled and dismissed after staff reported the applicant had withdrawn it and determined a CUP was not required. The September 8, 2026, meeting minutes were approved as amended. No contract awards, vendor selections, or purchasing actions were identified.