Reno County commissioners reject battery storage, data center bans

Reno County commissioners in Kansas recently voted against two proposed motions that sought to ban battery energy storage systems and data centers in certain areas of the county. The decision followed an intense debate during Monday's meeting, where community members engaged in a back-and-forth discussion with the commissioners.

Commissioner Richard Winger, who opposed the bans, questioned the audience about the likelihood of companies creating 300 high-paying jobs in Hutchinson, Kansas, if such bans were in place. Ultimately, three out of five commissioners voted against the prohibitions.

In addition to the proposed bans, commissioners also considered establishing specific regulations for these facilities or maintaining the current conditional use permit (CUP) process. However, no action was taken on creating new rules, ensuring the existing CUP process remains. Under this process, applicants for battery storage or data centers in unincorporated zoned areas must file for a CUP, which is then reviewed by the planning commission, followed by a public hearing and a recommendation to the county commissioners for final approval or denial. If approved, the applicant can proceed with a zoning permit and site plan before construction begins.