In a recent government meeting, officials reviewed an interim use permit application from Enterprise Energy for a proposed 5-megawatt solar garden on property owned by the Trout Family Partnership in Broadway Township, Minnesota. The project is situated within the city of Saint Cloud's drinking water supply management area, prompting necessary notifications to local soil and water conservation districts.

The application received a favorable response from the soil and water conservation district, indicating that the project would convert disturbed soil into a more stable vegetative state, thereby reducing soil erosion and improving water quality. The site, characterized by relatively flat topography and non-prime farmland soil, will have access from 55th Avenue, a township road.

Key features of the proposal include the installation of a 6-foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire, with the option for a deer-style fence. The developers plan to enhance vegetative screening along the south side of the project and have committed to maintaining a pollinator-friendly habitat within the solar garden.

A wetland delineation is currently underway due to the presence of a farmed wetland in the project's southwest corner. The project has been reviewed by the state’s Department of Natural Resources, which found no concerns regarding potential impacts on rare natural features.

The permit application includes a decommissioning plan, with a financial guarantee of $925,000 required for the project's eventual dismantling. Suggested conditions for approval include setting the permit's expiration date to 35 years from the project's operational start date, ensuring that a qualified engineer certifies the foundation's compliance with professional standards, and mandating annual monitoring of the established vegetation.

The surrounding area features a mix of residential and commercial zoning, with approximately 21 homes and three registered feedlots within a half-mile radius. The comprehensive plan designates the site as part of a concentrated development area, aligning with the proposed solar garden's objectives.