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Soak up the sun,
Richland County

Flickertail Solar Project

Flickertail Solar Project, LLC is proposing an up to 300 megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) solar energy facility and a potential battery energy storage system (BESS) capable of up to 150 MW/600MWh hours of storage in Richland County, North Dakota. This project has the potential to power up to 59,000 homes annually. We are excited to be working in partnership with the Township, County officials, and landowners to bring residents the opportunity to host a clean, environmentally compatible, renewable energy project.

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Facts

Project Information

Meadow
Image by Thomas Despeyroux
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LOCATION

Flickertail Solar Project is located in Richland County, North Dakota, about 30 miles south of Fargo.

TRANSMISSION

The project will connect onsite to Minnkota Power Cooperative’s Frontier-Wahpeton 230 kilovolt (kV) line. Anticipated Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA) Execution:

Q3 2023.

SOLAR SUPPORT IN RICHLAND COUNTY

1,000 registered Richland County voters were recently surveyed. Out of more than 575 respondents, almost 60% support solar energy development in Richland County.

FLICKERTAIL PROJECT COMMITMENTS

Click here to view the updated project commitments.

Information

Benefits of a Solar Project

A solar project provides a healthy, productive economic development opportunity for local landowners to harvest a stable cash crop – the sun. Benefits include positive impacts to the local economy through revenue to local governments and support to other local services.

 

In addition to being safe and compatible with agricultural and rural residential uses, solar energy facilities exist in harmony with wildlife and the environment. They make good neighbors because they operate almost silently without producing odor or byproducts or attracting additional traffic.

 

In the bigger picture, solar energy projects provide an abundant, earth-friendly, sustainable power resource to help stabilize electricity costs. These amazing systems lessen carbon emissions and contribute to the diversification of the nation’s electricity grid.

Benefits of Flickertail Solar Project

As currently proposed the Flickertail Solar Project would represent more than $300 million in private investment and equate to an average of over $681,400 in annual tax revenue to the community just in Production and Nameplate Capacity Taxes during the expected life of the project alone. We ask that you read the facts below and please sign up as a supporter to help ensure that we don't let this opportunity pass us by.

 The Project will utilize North Dakota’s strong solar resources to generate and distribute renewable energy.  For example, the Project will generate enough energy to power up to approximately 59,000 homes annually.  Additionally, the Project will provide meaningful economic benefits to landowners, local governments, and communities, including the following: 

  • Provides reliable income through Land Right Agreements payments to landowners.

  • Allows landowners to diversify their operations with minimal disruption to existing agricultural use. 

  • Creates up to approximately 300 temporary jobs, both skilled and unskilled, at the peak of Project construction.

  • Creates up to 3 full-time jobs during operations.

  • Provides significant and measurable indirect economic benefits to the general area, including increased retail and service activity at restaurants, gas stations, and local purchases of construction materials and supplies.

  • Generates personal income by circulation and recirculation of dollars paid out by the Project as business expenditures and state and local taxes, as well as associated increases to the local tax base.

  • Diversifies economic development in the Township.

In addition to direct payments to participating landowners, creation of jobs, and other economic activity, the Project will also generate significant direct economic benefits in the form of payments in lieu of property taxes paid to state and local taxing authorities. Based on the current statutory formula for payments in place of property taxes, which is based on the Project’s nameplate capacity and production of electricity, Flickertail anticipates paying the following estimated taxes annually and over the life of the Project:

 

 

The Project would also generate increased revenue from a change in the classification and valuation of the land on which the Project is located from agriculture to commercial.  Long-term beneficial impacts to the tax base of Abercrombie Township as a result of the construction and operation of the Project are expected to have a positive effect on the local economy in this area of North Dakota.  The Project is designed to benefit participating landowners, local governments, and communities socioeconomically.

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Benefits

Project News & Events

  • Completed: November 20, 2023 at 7 p.m.  

    • Flickertail Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Public Hearing 

    • Description: Joint Special Meeting and Public Hearing of Abercrombie Township Zoning Commission and Abercrombie Township Board of Supervisors

    • Location: Abercrombie Community Center (516 Broadway, Abercrombie, ND 58001

    • Notices: Notice provided in the Wahpeton Daily Newspaper on 11/4/2023 and 11/11/2023 

  • Completed: September 27, 2023

    •  Notification was provided by way of Wahpeton Daily Newspaper on 9/17/2023

    • Joint Special Meeting of the Abercrombie Township Zoning Commission and the Abercrombie Township Board of Supervisors to discuss Flickertail Solar Project, LLC’s application for a conditional use permit and to schedule a joint public hearing on Flickertail Solar Project, LLC’s application.  

  • Completed: August 21, 2023
    • Notification has been provided by way of:

    • Wahpeton Daily Newspaper 8/8/2023

    • Flickertail Solar Project website

    • Flickertail Solar Project Facebook page

    • Invites were mailed to nearby land and property owners on 8/4/2023

  • Flickertail Solar Project Community Meeting
    Click here for more details 

  • Completed: June 30, 2023
    Flickertail Solar Project submitted an initial draft of the project’s application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) along with the application fee to Abercrombie Township.

  • Completed: February 8, 2023
    Joint Public Hearing of the Zoning Commission and Board of Supervisors for the Text Amendment to allow Solar Energy Generating Systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems as a CUP conditional use in the Agricultural District. The Text Amendment and a fee schedule where both approved by the Zoning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.

  • Completed: January 18, 2023 
    Joint public meeting of the Zoning Commission and Board of Supervisors was noticed for the formal acceptance of the application for text amendment and setting of a public hearing          

  • Completed: December 21, 2022
    Flickertail Solar Project submitted an application for a Text Amendment to allow for Solar Energy Generating Systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems as a conditionally permitted use (CUP) in the Agricultural District and provided the township with supporting materials

  • Completed: September 14, 2022
    Flickertail Solar Project hosted a Solar Information Forum at Galchutt Seed

  • Completed: May 17, 2022
    Flickertail Solar Project to host a Solar Information Forum from 7:30-8:30 PM at the Colfax Community Center. Click here for more details!

  • Completed: March 8, 2022
    Join us for a virtual meeting. Click here for details on how

        to join.

Project News & Events

Get in Touch

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Meet Our Team

Without the vision and partnership of local officials and supportive community members, solar power facilities would not be possible. With gratitude, we want to recognize the farmers, landowners, and residents of Richland County for their support and ambition to secure a bright future for their community through an economic contributor like Flickertail Solar Project.

Nick Schuler

Development Director

Christina Martens

Director of Permitting & Environmental

Sean Flannery

Senior Director of Permitting & Environmental

Contact
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