Honeysuckle solar farm near New Carlisle could bring clean energy, jobs and lots of tax revenue to St. Joseph County

But for local taxing authorities, the biggest benefit will come from the more than $27 million in additional real and personal property taxes that will be generated by the $164.7 million project in the first 25 years of its existence — even while it's passing back $37 million to the developer.

Lightsource BP, which took over the project called Honeysuckle Solar Project —from a company called RES last year, plans to install 407,000 solar panels on about 1,100 acres of leased land bounded roughly by U.S. 20 and Spruce, Tamarack and Darden roads. 

Years in development:St. Joseph County working on plans for massive solar farm called 'Project Honeysuckle'

Construction is expected to get underway later this year, but first the proposal needs to go through a variety of steps that include the approval of a development agreement between the county and the developer as well as the creation of a tax-increment financing district or TIF. 

The development agreement has already been approved by the redevelopment commission, and commissioners are set to vote on the proposal on Tuesday. County Council recently tabled the agreement to give the developer more time to work out construction labor agreements.