A proposed 500-megawatt solar farm in rural northeast Kansas is dividing Jackson County, where some landowners see the project as a financial lifeline and a clean energy opportunity while others fear it could permanently alter the landscape, wildlife, and way of life around Delia.
What's happening?
According to The Hutchinson News, the Jeffrey Solar proposal calls for panels on roughly 2,000 acres of farmland near Delia in southwest Jackson County, with the land coming from voluntary leases.
Planners say they are looking at a broader area of about 5,000 acres, but the eventual buildout remains uncertain because Jackson County has not yet finished the solar regulations that would govern the project.
Developer NextEra Energy Resources has not said how many landowners have signed leases.
Still, a 2025 district court ruling cited in the report said more than 9,400 acres had already been leased, and Sherman Bernett, Jeffrey Solar's lead project manager, said the design is still in the "early stages."
For Brandon Kerwin, a fifth-generation farmer who has joined the project, lease income could ease the nonstop financial pressure that comes with agriculture.
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Delia resident Stephanie Dolan sees it differently, saying the development "doesn't quite fit" the quiet rural community she and her family chose.
Why does it matter?
Beyond the local dispute, large solar developments can offer several potential benefits, including carbon-free electricity for the grid, steadier income for landowners, and tax revenue for schools, roads, and other public services.
NextEra said Jeffrey Solar would bring in $136 million in added tax revenue over 30 years, including $25 million during the first decade.
Kerwin said, "Another thing you'll hear is farmers are asset rich, but they're cash poor, and it's true."
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In his view, a dependable annual lease payment can be especially valuable in an unstable farm economy, helping families pay land notes, make property improvements, or cover medical bills.
Skeptics say those advantages may come with costs.
Matt DeVader, a Jackson County resident who supports renewable energy, said he worries about damage to native prairie and the loss of habitat.
Delia City Council member Morgan Hansen said residents have also questioned effects on property values, roads, and whether the town itself would receive meaningful benefits.
What's being done?
Much of what happens next depends on county policy. Jackson County still has not adopted final solar rules, so both the size and layout of the project may shift before a formal application is filed.
NextEra Energy Resources spokesperson Marshall Hastings said the process has not advanced far enough for the company to share a detailed site plan.
The company said it is evaluating environmental impacts and intends to avoid sensitive areas.
Bernett said, "We do quite a bit of environmental studies and make sure we stay away from certain animals to certain grasslands."
Hastings also said construction would have "minimal impact" and that the land would not be paved over.
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If Jeffrey Solar is approved, Bernett said it could be up and running by 2030.
People on both sides say they want clearer details, and many residents want any benefits from the project to remain local.
"I really do think most people are just trying to do their best," participating landowner Rachele Thompson said.
Kerwin also said his support depends on Delia seeing the biggest share of the benefits: "If Delia's not going to benefit the most from this ... I'll be right there batting against it, too."
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