Skycrest Solar stays on horizon

Construction plans for Skycrest Solar could still be a few years down the road.

Regardless, renewable energy company Invenergy still has its sights set on establishing a solar farm in Jay County.

Jay County Commissioners approved an amendment Monday to the county’s economic development agreement with Invenergy for its 2,500-acre farm planned in northwest Jay County.

Skycrest Solar, a $150 million, 155-megawatt facility, is estimated to bring an additional $55 million in assessed value to Jay County.

Jay County Council approved the amended agreement June 12, and Jay County Plan Commission approved an amended development plan for the project June 13. Plan commission also agreed to notify adjoining property owners and send notices through the newspaper and radio about the changes.

Invenergy will contribute about $1.74 million in economic development payments to the county over the course of four years. The updated agreement requires Invenergy to make its first payment to the county no later than six months after construction begins. (Previously, the first payment was due up to 120 days after the facility began generating electricity.)

It also stipulates construction must start no later than Dec. 31, 2026, and be completed by Dec. 31, 2028, effectively pushing back the project’s timeline by two years.

The need to extend the project’s timeline stems from an earlier shortage in solar panels — Invenergy recently opened a solar panel factory in Columbus, Ohio, to avoid shortages in the future — and delays with regional electric transmission organization PJM Interconnection. 

Out of the four companies planning solar farms in Jay County, Invenergy is the only one that has received a final interconnection agreement with the organization so far. (Leeward Renewable Energy, Hodson Energy and Scout Clean Energy are still working through the process.)

“How confident are you this project’s actually going to happen?” asked commissioner Brian McGalliard.

Ethan Sternburg of Invenergy pointed to interconnection costs as a leading factor in a project’s outcome. He noted plans to build a new substation and connect to an existing power line running through the project area, requiring few upgrades to connect to the grid.

“Once that happened, we really (were) a lot more confident of the project’s feasibility,” said Sternburg, noting the company has extended its leases with property owners as needed. “Invenergy’s fully committed to the project and making sure that we’re able to reap the benefits of this large project coming to the community … we’re fully committed to the project and feel good about its prospects moving forward.”

Commissioners also approved the economic development plan Monday for the county’s tax increment financing (TIF) district.

Started about 15 years ago on about 191 acres in Greene Township, the TIF district had been generating dollars used to pay off bonds associated with road work and sewer improvements near the ethanol plant southwest of Portland. Jay County made its final bond payment related to the TIF district in 2023, leaving the county with an additional $550,000 annually for the next 13 years.

The economic development plan lists potential projects those dollars may be used for, including: transportation enhancements, public safety enhancements, utility infrastructure, highway garage improvements, a new building for Jay County Solid Waste Management District, a new public safety building and planning and development of the county's 68 acres on the western edge of Portland.

Also Monday, commissioners were reminded applications for the owner-occupied rehabilitation program close Friday. Community coordinator Nate Kimball noted the county has received about 90 applications so far, with about 70 of them fully completed.

Intended to help residents pay for home improvements, the program is mainly funded through a $1 million grant from Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Applications — they must be submitted in-person — are available at jaycounty.net, Jay County Auditor's Office at Jay County Courthouse in Portland, Dunkirk City Hall, Redkey Town Hall and Kimball’s office at the Community Resource Center in Portland.

In other business, commissioners Brian McGalliard, Rex Journay and Chad Aker:

•Re-addressed the dog, Kilo, living at Jay County Country Living. Jay County Country Living advisory board president Cindy Bracy noted officials recently heard back from its insurance provider, Bliss McKnight. Commissioners confirmed as long as the dog is vaccinated, he may continue to live outdoors on the property. (If he bitea a person, they added, the dog must be removed.)

•Approved the following: Sheriff Ray Newton to utilize about $18,000 from his department’s budget to hire consultant Charles Braun — pending Schemenaur’s review of the contract — for updating standard operating procedures for employees at Jay County Sheriff’s Office and Jay County Jail; allotting $11,000 toward the 2024 Launch Jay! pitch competition, with Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards explaining the program had been previously funded through a grant; increasing meal reimbursement for employees attending training or conferences in-state from $15 to $20 for breakfast and lunch and $25 to $30 for dinner, effective July 1

•Agreed to write a letter of support for renaming the bridge on Indiana 67 near Jay County Junior-Senior High School in honor of Bryant resident and Jay County High School graduate Lance Cpl. Andrew Whitaker, who died while in active military service in 2008. District 33 State Representative J.D. Prescott plans to propose the naming in the statehouse.

•Learned from Jay County Highway Department superintendent Bob Howell that B&M Construction of Decatur — in May, commissioners selected the company to make repairs to the building being used to store salt at the highway department —  does not have a certificate of insurance. Plans are to request bids again for the project. 

•Accepted a commercial washer and dryer and other furniture donations from Adams County’s residential center, Golden Meadows Home, which is in the process of closing.

•Heard Jay Emergency Medical Services’ financial breakdown for May from director Gary Barnett. In May, the department had $170,312.11 in expenses and $100,852.18 in income. 

•Heard from Progressive Del Toro Office Products owner Adolfo Solis, who invited commissioners to his business’ open house, grand re-opening and ribbon-cutting on Monday.

•OK’d selling a Ford truck to Robert Burkey for $900 and a decommissioned ambulance to Brad Barnett for $1,750