Cass County to Consider $240 Million Battery Storage Project Near Pleasant Hill on October 27th
By Connie Whitlock
Publishing Editor
Proposed energy facility along East 175th Street would connect to an existing Evergy substation.
The Cass County Planning Board will consider a proposed $240 million battery energy storage facility near Pleasant Hill on Tuesday, October 27, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be in the second-floor courtroom of the Cass County Courthouse in Harrisonville.
SP Resilient Power 04, LLC, associated with Sofos Power, proposed the Dogwood Resilient Power Project and is requesting a special use permit to construct and operate the facility at 24701 E. 175th Street, near an existing Evergy electrical substation. The board will consider the application and make a recommendation before the matter proceeds to the Cass County Commission for a final decision.
The development would be located on about 74.7 acres of agricultural land in rural Pleasant Hill. According to the developer’s application, the battery equipment itself would occupy no more than 5.9 acres, with additional land used for access, setbacks, landscaping, and other site requirements.
The facility would store electricity in large battery systems and release that energy back into the electrical grid when needed. Unlike a traditional power plant, it would not generate electricity by burning fuel. Instead, the batteries would charge from the electrical grid and discharge stored power during periods of high demand or other grid needs.
According to the developer, the project aims to improve grid reliability, support renewable energy integration, and add flexibility in managing electricity supply and demand. The facility would connect to Evergy’s existing substation along East 175th Street.
According to the application, the developer projects approximately $16 million in new tax revenue over an anticipated 20-year operating life. The developer would distribute that revenue among applicable local taxing entities, although the application does not provide a final breakdown of how much each district would receive.
Construction is expected to support approximately 20 to 30 workers at a time, with employment levels varying during the project. Once operational, personnel would remotely monitor the facility, with visits for routine maintenance, inspections, and repairs.
The developer anticipates a construction period of approximately six to twelve months. They hope to be up and running by 2029 or 30.
Agricultural and residential areas surround the area. The developers mapped out residential buildings approximately 270 feet and 950 feet from the project property boundary.
The application describes several proposed safety measures, including thermal management systems, smoke and fire detection, integrated fire suppression equipment, and emergency access for first responders.
The developer also says it would coordinate an emergency response plan with the Pleasant Hill Fire Protection District. According to the application, company representatives have already met with the district and held a community meeting about the proposal.
The company says equipment placement, existing vegetation, landscaping, and setbacks would help reduce the project’s visibility and operational impacts on neighboring properties. Environmental plans include stormwater management, erosion control, and protection of identified wetlands.
Although the property has a Pleasant Hill mailing address and lies within the Pleasant Hill R-III School District and Pleasant Hill Fire Protection District, Cass County, not the Pleasant Hill City Council, is considering the zoning application.
The October 27 meeting is part of the county’s review process and does not constitute final approval of the project.
The Cass County Planning Board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 27, at the Cass County Courthouse, 102 E. Wall Street, Harrisonville. The public may attend.
Residents can review the October 27 Planning Board agenda and application packet on the Cass County website.