Zach Lasek and Mark Wengierski of Scout Clean Energy speak about plans for Sun Chief Solar at a Jay County Plan Commission meeting Thursday. The proposed $100 million, 100-megawatt solar energy facility will be located on about 1,200 acres northeast of Redkey, near Scout’s existing Bitter Ridge Wind Farm. It will have setbacks of about 30 feet from surrounding property lines and about 250 feet from nearby residences. (The Commercial Review/Bailey Cline)
Zach Lasek and Mark Wengierski of Scout Clean Energy speak about plans for Sun Chief Solar at a Jay County Plan Commission meeting Thursday. The proposed $100 million, 100-megawatt solar energy facility will be located on about 1,200 acres northeast of Redkey, near Scout’s existing Bitter Ridge Wind Farm. It will have setbacks of about 30 feet from surrounding property lines and about 250 feet from nearby residences. (The Commercial Review/Bailey Cline)
A solar farm planned for northeast of Redkey has received the OK to move forward.

Jay County Plan Commission found the proposed Sun Chief Solar with sustainable energy company Scout Clean Energy to be compliant with the current solar ordinance and approved its development plan Thursday.

Scout’s Sun Chief Solar project manager Zach Lasek and director of development Mark Wengierski shared a brief overview of the planned facility.

Scout — the same company operating Bitter Ridge Wind Farm in southwest Jay County — will be constructing Sun Chief Solar, a $100 million, 100-megawatt facility on about 1,200 acres near the existing wind farm northeast of Redkey. (About 70% of the project is in Jefferson township, and 30% of the project is in Richland township.) The facility will be connected to the same transmission line as Bitter Ridge Wind Farm.

“In this case, it will be a true co-location of wind and solar facilities,” Lasek said.

Scout’s plan is to have its solar farm completed by the end of 2025.

Sun Chief Solar has a 30-foot setback from surrounding property lines, and it will sit about 250 feet away from nearby residences. (The ordinance calls for 25-foot setbacks from properties and 150-foot setbacks from residences.) The facility will also have a 600-foot setback from nearby wind turbines. The company will have a 25-foot vegetative buffer, in accordance with the ordinance.

Lasek noted the chain link fences surrounding the property will be 7 feet tall.

There will be no permanent impact to wetlands, according to Lasek, as those in the area of the project will be “completely avoided.”

Scout will save about $3.8 million in property taxes with its 10-year tax abatement approved in November. The company will give about $1.3 million in economic development payments to the county, and its facility will result in additional $38.9 million in assessed value. It will generate more than $24 million in property taxes over its 35-year life.

Out of a crowd of about 14 people, a few residents who live near the planned facility’s location asked questions or shared concerns about the project.

One man worried about how the deer patterns will change near his home, which he said will be surrounded on three sides with panels. Jay County Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn noted the fence runs parallel to the gas lines, which will provide a path for deer to cross.

Hemmelgarn also asked if the facility could have dimmer safety lights (or if the lights could be adjusted to different angles) in comparison to lights at its wind farm. He noted his office had many calls about the issue.

Wengierski said the company was aware of the problem and adjusted light angles in response.

Jay County Commissioner Brian McGalliard, who represents the south district, spoke in favor of the project.

“Unfortunately anytime you have expansion, progress, somebody’s affected,” he said. “We have no virgin territory in Jay County. Somebody’s going to be affected.”

Pati McLaughlin, assistant director of Jay County Building and Planning, noted the construction start and end dates were different across various documents given to the county. Scout agreed to provide updated documents with an accurate timeline.

Plan commission members Michelle Penrod, Steve Ford, Scott Hilfiker, Chad Aker and Brad Daniels — Matt Minnich, Adam Westgerdes and Dru Mercer were absent — approved the company’s development plan unanimously, with the requirement Scout makes the necessary timeline change.
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