To the editor:

Lower property tax, cheaper electrical rates, reduced mill levy. A solar facility would provide these opportunities to this community, plus more. The solar facility would bring millions of dollars of tax revenue to this community, lowering everyone’s property tax. The electricity would be used locally, reducing electrical rates. Acciona provides support to local food banks, FFA and 4-H Chapters, schools, colleges and other community support.

So for our local officials and non-informed citizens, who have never toured/visited a solar facility and never will, nor done research: Solar panels are not blue in color, they are nonreflective and non-glare. The area is planted to grass, (no cattails) the panels are in rows spaced 10-12 feet apart and the sections are spaced 10-12 feet apart. The acreage is not one single area, but spread out. A solar facility would never be mistaken as a body of water from the air; therefore no water fowl or birds would fly into them, due to the spacing from field to field. Unless you drive sand roads and really look for them, you will not see them from the main roads in the area. There are recycling facilities for the panels.

How many houses, housing developments, oil wells, tank batteries, buildings and landfills are within a mile or two, or closer, and set right at Cheyenne Bottoms? A LOT, oh but there are no issues, REALLY. The solar project will not impact the area, show us actual facts and figures!!

There are no issues; just misinformation to us, to keep new industry from arriving. How negative is that.

Have you noticed a decrease in ducks, geese or birds that fly from the north? If the wind turbans has caused disturbance why are there so many species in the area and they did not stop at I-70 where the wind turbans are? There is no issue in the immigration flight patterns, due to the wind turbans. It doesn’t exist. 

Thanks to the city officials and Dan Witt, for the misinformation. Next thanks for the misuse of the word “farm.” A farm provides you with food to eat, fiber for clothes and fuel produces so you can drive and we could provide CLEAN ENERGY. Don’t be selfish and self centered. You will regret this.

The local farmers spend millions of dollars in the community purchasing equipment, fuel, fertilizer, seeds, parts, vehicles, property tax and much more every year. What a slap in the face to not only the farmers, but the entire community to refuse us once again an industry that would help the community to grow and expand with clean energy. Why should private property owners be told what they can and can’t do the their property when they are paying the taxes on it? Maybe all the solar lights and solar decorations should be removed from the entire community; what an eyesore they can be.

There have not been any new industries allowed here for years and there probably never will be, so let’s continue to pay one of the highest property taxes in the state of Kansas. Let’s not grow, but sit idle and decline as we have for years.

If this is a community decision, then the community should be allowed to VOTE on this issue and not a handful of county and city officials decide what they think is best for this community. NO RUSH, SO LET US ALL VOTE. Thanks for your nonsupport once again to the citizens in Barton County.

Adiline Meier

Great Bend