Superior’s Solar Garden Gets Final Approval

The green project has gotten a green light!  The solar garden that Superior Water Light and Power has planned at the intersection of 28th Street and Hammond Avenue in Superior cleared its final regulatory hurdle.  According to news sources, the city's Plan Commission approved a special-use permit on December 16 that will allow the project to advance forward.

Details released by news sources and Superior Water Light and Power show that the utility company plans to start construction during the second quarter of 2021 at the section of land it owns near Heritage Park.  There is a qualifier that the utility company needs to have 75% of the customers subscribing to the project sign their contracts.  According to news sources, all Superior Water Light and Power residential and business customers are eligible to participate in the program.

Participation grants ownership of energy credits derived off of the solar garden panels. According to sources:  "[s]ubscriptions will be sold in 1-kilowatt increments for teh 470-kilowatt solar garden, enough energy to power 115 homes".

The approval by the Plan Commission came at a virtual public-hearing meeting.  Members of the general public were invited to participate either at that time or by pore-submitting their comments.  No one personally addressed the commissioners, but Jason Serck - Superior's Economic Development, Port, and Planning Director - read commentary that had been pre-submitted.  Three sets of commentary voiced opposition to the solar garden.

Now that approval from the Plan Commission is in place, the matter moves to the Superior City Council for consideration of the special-use permit.  The council will take it up at their next meeting which is scheduled for January 5, 2021.