Morgan County board to consider battery project, solar-road agreements
The proposed Dearfield Energy Project could reach 400 megawatts; separate Fortress Solar agreements would fund improvements to about 1.7 miles of county roads.
Morgan County commissioners will consider a special-use permit Tuesday, July 21, for South Platte Solar LLC’s proposed Dearfield Energy Project, a battery-storage facility that could reach 400 megawatts. They also will consider agreements requiring Fortress Solar projects to improve and use portions of County Roads Q and R.
The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Fort Morgan. The county agenda lists Resolution 2026 BCC 32 for the battery project and public-improvement and road-use agreements for Fortress Solar I, II and III. The agenda and supporting packets are prospective records; they do not establish what the board will approve, reject or change.
The battery facility is proposed for about 40 acres in the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 30, Township 3 North, Range 56 West. June planning materials describe roughly 170 inverters and transformers, 680 battery enclosures, 340 augmentation blocks, fencing, a substation and related infrastructure. The site is zoned Agriculture Production and lies within the Brush Fire District, the planning packet says.
The draft resolution would provide three years of vested rights after approval. Before a certificate of occupancy, the developer would have to provide a performance bond, letter of credit or cash escrow equal to 100% to 125% of the county-approved estimate for decommissioning and remediation. The work would be due within 12 months, unless the county grants an extension for good cause. The decommissioning plan would be reviewed at least every five years or after a substantial facility modification. The project location is identified in the county’s public-hearing notice.
The proposed Fortress public-improvement agreement covers about 1.7 miles of road — 1.1 miles of County Road Q and 0.6 miles of County Road R. It calls for four inches of asphalt paving on Q and three inches of compacted aggregate base on R, plus proof-rolling and related corrections. The exhibit estimates the work at $571,440. Fortress entities would pay for it and post security equal to 115% of the estimate before construction begins — about $657,156 based on the exhibit’s estimate. The work would start within 30 days of the county’s notice to proceed and be completed within one year of execution. After acceptance, the improvements would be conveyed to the county, with a two-year warranty and security reduced to 15% of actual cost during that period, the board packet says.
A separate road-use agreement would require each solar permittee to post security equal to 115% of estimated maintenance and restoration costs and restore the roads to their documented preconstruction condition within two months after each project phase. The packet does not state the dollar amount of that guarantee.
The July 21 meeting will determine whether the proposed permit conditions and agreement obligations take effect. The available records do not establish final approval, construction, the battery project’s final decommissioning estimate or the road-use restoration guarantee amount.