Baxter City Council approves solar array, despite objection

The Baxter City Council approved a solar array within the city limits on land owned by the City of Brainerd. The approval was not unanimous, however. Baxter council member Mark Cross raised objections because of the site’s proximity to a residential area in which he lives. Baxter has no provision for solar arrays within any zoning district. The proposed array will be approximately 8 acres within a 95 acre site near the Brainerd Public Utilities.

The Brainerd City Council already granted authorization for BPU to enter into an agreement with Brainerd Solar LLC.