Jay County Commissioners on Monday signed decommissioning and road use agreements with Invenergy for its proposed Skycrest Solar facility in Penn and Jackson townships. Invenergy is hoping to build a $150 million, 155-megawatt solar farm in northwest Jay County, with construction possible as soon as 2022. (Photo provided/Invenergy)
Jay County Commissioners on Monday signed decommissioning and road use agreements with Invenergy for its proposed Skycrest Solar facility in Penn and Jackson townships. Invenergy is hoping to build a $150 million, 155-megawatt solar farm in northwest Jay County, with construction possible as soon as 2022. (Photo provided/Invenergy)
Solar energy is on the horizon for Jay County.

Jay County Commissioners on Monday signed two agreements — one for road use and one for a decommissioning plan — with the sustainable energy company Invenergy for its proposed Skycrest Solar facility.

Commissioners will need to sign an economic development agreement before July 5, per the two other agreements, to get to project rolling.

Invenergy, a global firm with headquarters in Chicago, is planning a $150 million, 155-megawatt facility located on about 2,500 acres in Penn and Jackson Townships.

The company estimates it would generate about $30 million in property taxes over the life of the facility in addition to $40 million in lease payments to participating landowners.

The timeline for the project calls for permitting this year with construction to begin in 2022 and the facility to be operational as early as 2024.

Invenergy and Jay County officials have been negotiating the agreements for the last four months, county attorney Bill Hinkle noted. They are similar to road use and decommissioning agreements the county signed with NextEra Energy and Scout Clean Energy for wind farm projects.

The road use agreement will identify roads used for the solar project, which will be determined closer to the time of construction. It also requires the company’s contractor to notify Jay County Highway Department whenever it anticipates closing or having heavy machinery on the roads. The agreement also requires Invenergy to document the condition of the property before construction begins, Hinkle said.

The decommissioning plan for the solar panels lays out the requirements for the removal of equipment when the facility is no longer operational.

Decommissioning can begin if there is no electricity generated for 12 consecutive months or within 60 days from the end of the project, which is projected to last about 35 years. Invenergy is also responsible for removing all panels and equipment from the property and restoring the land to its prior condition, Hinkle explained.

Hinkle noted there is currently legislation moving through the Indiana Senate that, if passed, could potentially alter the economic development agreement, although he said he does not anticipate the legislation being a problem for the county. (The legislation would establish standards for setbacks and other requirements for wind and solar operations.) He plans to wait until the end of the Indiana General Assembly session next month before finalizing it.
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