Board Approves Moonshine Solar Decommissioning Deal Exceeding State Minimum

Spread the love

Clark County Board Meeting | April 17, 2026

Article Summary: The Clark County Board on Friday, April 17, 2026, approved a decommissioning agreement for the Moonshine Solar project under which the developer will post 100% financial assurance beginning at the building permit stage — well ahead of the state statutory schedule. The agreement is to be re-evaluated every five years at the developer’s cost.

Moonshine Solar Decommissioning Key Points:

  • The board approved the Moonshine Solar decommissioning agreement resolution, carried on the agenda as Resolution 2026-R02.
  • Attorney Andrew Keyt said state statute requires only 10% financial assurance for the first six years, 50% through year 11, and 100% thereafter. Moonshine has agreed to post 100% from the building permit stage.
  • The agreement is to be re-evaluated every five years, at a cost to the developer.
  • The vote was unanimous among members present.

CLARK COUNTY — The Clark County Board on Friday, April 17, 2026, approved a decommissioning agreement for the Moonshine Solar project that requires the developer to post full financial assurance years earlier than state law demands.

Andrew Keyt, the attorney representing the county on wind and solar ordinances and projects, updated the board on the resolution before the vote. Keyt said the Moonshine project is getting close to starting and will need a building permit in the future. One of the requirements imposed on the project was to have a decommissioning plan and financial assurance.

Under the state statute’s minimum requirement, Keyt said, a developer only has to post 10% for the first six years, then 50% up to year 11, and after that 100%. Moonshine has agreed to post 100% from the building permit stage. Keyt told the board the agreement is favorable to the county, and that it will be re-evaluated every five years, at a cost to the developer.

The minutes do not record the dollar amount of the financial assurance, the size or location of the project, the name of the developer, or the form the assurance will take.

The motion to approve was made by board member Brandon Burkybile and seconded by board member Mike Parsons. The chairman put the question, and upon the roll being taken all members present voted aye. Chairman Rex Goble declared the motion adopted. The minutes note an attachment to the item; the attachment was not included in the materials available for this report.

Decommissioning plans and financial assurance requirements generally govern how a solar site is removed and the land restored once a project reaches the end of its life, and how the money to do that work is guaranteed in advance.

The Moonshine project surfaced a second time later in the meeting. Under new and old business during the highway discussion, County Engineer Dallas Richardson told the board that the Moonshine Solar Farm road repairs were having the culverts delivered that day, so that work would be starting soon. The minutes carry no further detail on the road repairs — no cost, no roads named, and no schedule.

The board’s action on the Moonshine agreement came the same morning it tabled amended solar and wind ordinances on its attorney’s advice, and heard from a second developer that a new solar special use application is coming within the month. The minutes do not describe any relationship between the Moonshine project and those matters.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker tax payments revealed; teen abortion rate 3rd highest

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker tax payments revealed; teen abortion rate 3rd highest

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker tax payments revealed Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker paid taxes on more than $10 million of income in the most recent tax year, $1.4...
Poll: Majority of Americans concerned with rise in political violence

Poll: Majority of Americans concerned with rise in political violence

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Americans are overwhelmingly concerned about the rising rate of political violence but are divided on how much they think the media bears the responsibility for...
Brief filed in effort to restore Fourteenth Amendment, end birthright citizenship

Brief filed in effort to restore Fourteenth Amendment, end birthright citizenship

By Tate MillerThe Center Square America First Legal is leading the charge for the United States to return to the "original meaning" of the Fourteenth Amendment, meaning that children born...
Federal judge extends order on NYC anti-terrorism funds

Federal judge extends order on NYC anti-terrorism funds

By Chris WadeThe Center Square The Trump administration has been given another week to make its case to withhold more than $33 million in counter-terrorism funds for New York City's...
Trump says he may attend Supreme Court case challenging tariffs

Trump says he may attend Supreme Court case challenging tariffs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Calling it "one of the most important cases in the history of our country," President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he might attend the...
L.A. County declares state of emergency for immigrants

L.A. County declares state of emergency for immigrants

By Dave MasonThe Center Square The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has declared a state of emergency for immigrants because of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. The Board...
Governors announce new multi-state health alliance

Governors announce new multi-state health alliance

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that he is joining 14 other governors in forming a new nonpartisan public health hub, the Governors Public Health Alliance....
Horton resigns from DeKalb County School District

Horton resigns from DeKalb County School District

By Kim Jarrett | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Dr. Devon Horton resigned from the DeKalb County School District, a week after he was indicted by...
Second nationwide ‘No Kings Day’ protest set for Saturday

Second nationwide ‘No Kings Day’ protest set for Saturday

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square In thousands of locations across the country and even some across the world, millions are expected to gather in protest of what they see as...
Trump, Patel tout 'historic' crime crackdown

Trump, Patel tout ‘historic’ crime crackdown

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The FBI has overseen the arrests of nearly 8,700 violent criminals as part of Operation Summer Heat, President Donald Trump and FBI Kash Patel said...
Illinois quick hits: Business optimism index declines; Medicare open enrollment help offered

Illinois quick hits: Business optimism index declines; Medicare open enrollment help offered

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Business optimism index declines The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 2.0 points in September to 98.8, which remains just above...
WATCH: California seeks investigation into big tech merger

WATCH: California seeks investigation into big tech merger

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Wednesday he was joining 12 other Democratic state attorneys general in intervening in a $14 billion merger between rival...

WATCH: IL legislator blames Pritzker, Johnson rhetoric for ‘bounties’ on ICE

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Federal law enforcement agents in Chicago conducting immigration enforcement are the targets of bounties from Mexican cartels,...
Voters concerned about prices amid tariff rollout, upcoming midterms

Voters concerned about prices amid tariff rollout, upcoming midterms

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square As President Donald Trump's tariffs go into force and midterm elections come into focus, voters are more concerned about how much things cost than about...
Supreme Court won't let lawmaker intervene in tariff challenge

Supreme Court won’t let lawmaker intervene in tariff challenge

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court denied a move from a Montana lawmaker seeking to intervene as the high court takes up a challenge to President Donald...