Woodville Solar Farm in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada, about 60 miles northeast of Toronto, is one of Invenergy’s 19 solar projects based in North America. The company has proposed a $150 million, 155-megawatt solar farm — Skycrest Solar — in Penn and Jackson townships. (Invenergy)
Woodville Solar Farm in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada, about 60 miles northeast of Toronto, is one of Invenergy’s 19 solar projects based in North America. The company has proposed a $150 million, 155-megawatt solar farm — Skycrest Solar — in Penn and Jackson townships. (Invenergy)
An economic development agreement has been proposed between Jay County and Skycrest Solar Energy Center.

If approved, renewable energy company Invenergy would provide $1.75 million in economic development payments to the county over the course of four years. The proposal hinges on Jay County Council’s approval of the tax abatement. (Council will consider the abatement at its June 9 meeting.)

Jay County Commissioners reviewed the proposed agreement Wednesday.

Skycrest Solar is a proposed 2,500-acre facility in Jackson and Penn townships. The planned $150 million, 155-megawatt facility would be able to generate enough electricity to power about 31,000 homes, according to the Invenergy website.

County attorney Bill Hinkle explained the agreement took longer than usual to finalize because of changes to the ways property is being assessed in Indiana.

If approved, the $1.75 million economic development agreement would be the largest of those received by the county from renewable energy projects.

NextEra Energy Resources’s economic development agreement with the county totaled nearly $1 million for Bluff Point Wind Energy Center. That facility was built in 2017.

Scout Clean Energy’s agreement for Bitter Ridge Wind Farm, which was completed last year, was for $1.56 million.

The first of four payments is typically due when construction begins.

Economic development money from the Bluff Point project were used as matching dollars for Community Crossings grants for street and road paving projects and to fund the following: various Jay County Development Corp. initiatives ($200,000); construction of a new Farmer’s Building at Jay County Fairgrounds ($133,000); school safety initiatives for Jay School Corporation ($100,000); a contribution to the Arts Place capital campaign for its renovation and expansion project ($50,000); a new roof for The Glass Museum in Dunkirk ($32,900); and new restrooms at the fairgrounds ($25,000). Commissioners also provided $50,000 to each municipality in the county to help with projects of their choosing.

Bitter Ridge economic development funds have been set aside for pursuing the state’s Stellar Communities designation, which would move the county to the front of the line for millions more in grants. The Jay! Region was a finalist for the designation in 2019, receiving about $333,000 that is being used to expand Pennville Library. The program was suspended in 2020 and this year because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but is expected to be reinstated in 2022.

In accordance with the agreement, the project would begin construction no later than Dec. 31, 2024, and be completed no later than Dec. 31, 2026.

“I really want to hear what the public has to say,” said commissioner Chad Aker.

He and commissioner Brian McGalliard noted they haven’t heard much push back from the community but wanted to get input before proceeding. Commissioners chose not to vote on the agreement until after solar farm public hearings next week.

“We look forward to working with you soon,” said Invenergy analyst Tom Schoder.
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