Plans have been adjusted to meet setbacks with a solar project coming to rural Dunkirk.

Jay County Commissioners approved an amendment Monday to the economic development agreement with Leeward Renewable Energy for Rose Gold Solar.

A 150-megawatt solar facility, Rose Gold Solar is planned for about 1,430 acres of land north of Dunkirk. Leeward Renewable Energy received approval from county officials in 2021 and 2022 for various legal requirements, including a tax abatement, road use agreement, decommissioning plan and economic development agreement.

Plans originally called for the nearly $173 million project to begin construction in late 2022. Delays with PJM Interconnection — it’s the regional transmission organization that coordinates wholesale electricity movement across 13 states and the District of Columbia — Leeward Renewable Energy’s timeline has shifted.

The company is now estimated to start construction by June 30, 2027, with the work to be completed by the end of 2028. Jay County Council approved the timeline amendment at its meeting May 8.

Leeward will give $1.95 million to the county in economic development payments over a four-year period after the facility begins generating electricity. The project is expected to result in an additional $68.1 million in assessed value.

Commissioners also decided to apply the county’s health insurance refund to its employees premiums.

As part of the agreement with Physicians Health Plan, the county received a 40% refund — $42,884.99 — because employees’ claims so far this year have totaled less than their premiums. County auditor Emily Franks suggested the commissioners could keep the extra funding or pay it forward to employees. Crunching the numbers, Franks said the funding could be used to ensure that employees would not have to pay a premium on their health plan for four months or the funding could be used to reduce employees’ premium rates by 42% for the remainder of this year’s agreement.

Commissioners agreed to the rate reduction, which goes through the end of November. (The plan is annually renewed at that time.)

Also Monday, commissioners heard from Jay County Development Corp. board president Angela Paxson and executive director Travis Richards. Paxson confirmed the group had received commissioners’ list of points to consider regarding a contract for 2024 — JCDC met May 8 to discuss the topic — and noted the organization’s executive committee will review the requests and provide a recommendation to the board.

Commissioner president Chad Aker said they don’t expect all their requests to be approved and described the document as a part of the negotiation process.

“This is something that has gotten blown way out of proportion, and I think it’s time to bury the hatchet on this and both start working together,” he said.

Also, commissioners approved an agreement with LifeWorks Counseling and Wellness of Portland.

The business will offer anonymous counseling services to first responders working for the county as needed. Services are $140 for the initial intake session, with 50-minute sessions at $75 and 90-minute sessions at $125. Aker noted the local service costs less than the county’s previous provider, wellness company Mindbase.

Commissioners agreed to pay for the service out of their budget.
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