MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
LYONS, Kan. — A proposed wind farm project in Rice County has been canceled by NextEra Energy, ending a development effort that had been in the works for roughly two years.
The Florida-based energy company confirmed Friday it is no longer pursuing the project, citing a recently enacted county moratorium on wind and solar developments as a key factor in its decision.
The decision came just one day after NextEra abruptly canceled a planned public informational meeting in Lyons, leaving dozens of residents who showed up for the event without answers.
The Rice County Commission approved a one-year moratorium on large-scale wind and solar projects in March while officials work to develop zoning and regulatory guidelines.
However, county leaders indicated the moratorium alone may not fully explain the sudden withdrawal. Commission Chairman Clay Thomas said the company had been aware of the restriction and had continued moving forward with project planning, including recent soil testing at a proposed substation site.
The now-canceled project was expected to include up to 106 wind turbines southeast of Lyons, generating roughly 300 megawatts of electricity—enough to power thousands of homes—with a targeted operational date of 2028.
The proposal had drawn mixed reactions locally, with some residents supporting renewable energy development and others raising concerns about land use, water resources, and impacts on agriculture.
Frustration grew among community members after the last-minute meeting cancellation, with some residents questioning the transparency of the process and the timing of the company’s decision.
The project’s cancellation marks a significant development in ongoing debates over wind energy expansion in central Kansas, where local governments and residents continue to weigh economic opportunities against environmental and land-use concerns.