Scout details plans to council

Representatives of the third company seeking to construct a solar farm in Jay County met with county officials Wednesday.

Sun Chief Solar project manager Zach Lasek and director of development Mark Wengierski reviewed details of the project with Jay County Council. 

Scout Clean Energy, the Colorado-based company that also owns and operates Bitter Ridge Wind Farm in southwest Jay County, is planning the new project near the same area just northeast of Redkey. The proposed project will span approximately 1,200 acres, with 70% of it occupying Jefferson Township and 30% occupying Richland Township.

Wengierski pointed to a map of the project and noted some of the existing wind turbines within the project areas.

“This is a true co-location of wind and solar,” He said. “This is the first of its kind project, not only here in Indiana, but really in the entirety of the Midwest.”

Project plans call for setbacks of 250 feet from homes, 75 feet from wetlands, 50 feet from roads and 30 feet from property lines. (Those meet or exceed limitations within the county ordinance.)

The company is also in discussion with a landowner about potentially allowing his sheep to graze in the property, Lasek noted.

Scout representatives will be visiting Jay County Commissioners next month for road use and decommissioning agreements. They also plan to reach an economic development agreement and file a preliminary tax abatement between September and October of this year.

A preliminary timeline of the project, Lasek said, shows Scout purchasing panels –– they stand between 3 and 7 feet high and reach a maximum of 18 feet when tilted –– in early 2022. Construction will likely take most of 2023, with operations beginning near the end of that year.

Between 100 and 150 workers will be hired for Sun Chief Solar’s construction, with one or two permanent employees planned for its operations.

Lasek mentioned Scout hosted a celebration for landowners in the Bitter Ridge project Monday. He also noted the open house about Sun Chief held in the Farmer’s Building Tuesday at Jay County Fairgrounds.

Scout has grown since 2017, Lasek explained. It now has approximately 1,200 megawatts in operating assets and has financed and owns more than $1 billion in projects. The company currently has five wind farms in operation and several others in development. All of its four solar projects, including Sun Chief, are in the development stage. The others are Gipper Solar and Skyyield Solar, both in Illinois, and Markum Solar in Texas.

Two other companies are also planning solar operations in the county. Invenergy first presented its plans in February for a $150 million, 155-megawatt facility on about 2,500 acres in Penn and Jackson Townships. Leeward Renewable Energy also discussed its plans with commissioners for a $150 million, 150-megawatt solar farm on about 1,340 acres just north of Dunkirk.

Also Wednesday, council heard the preliminary estimate for the 2022 county budget is approximately $20.2 million. Next year’s budget includes previously approved raises for county employees’ wages by between 2% to 6%, depending on the job classification.

Council members OK’d county auditor Anna Culy to publish the first budget form and move forward with the process. A public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 1 for the coming year’s budget.

Jeanne Houchins reminded council of the joint meeting today with Jay County Commissioners at 6:30 p.m. Officials plan to discuss options for usage of incoming American Rescue Plan monies.

In other business, council members , Ted Champ, Mike Rockwell, Faron Parr, Ray Newton, Matt Minnich, Harold Towell and Houchins:

•Made $38,100 in additional appropriations, including $25,000 for the Jay County Fairgrounds restroom project and $8,000 for witness fees to Jay County Prosecutor’s Office.

•Approved giving the Town of Redkey the remainder of its allocated funds from the Bluff Point Energy Center economic development payments.

•Transferred $6,700 for road foreman wages.