Updates made for Sun Chief facility

Sun Chief Solar could be the first solar project to break ground in Jay County.

Jay County Council amended its economic development agreement and tax abatement Wednesday with Scout Clean Energy for the company’s proposed 100-megawatt facility northeast of Redkey.

Sun Chief Solar, to be located on approximately 1,200 acres near Scout Clean Energy’s Bitter Ridge Wind Farm, first moved through Jay County governmental proceedings about three years ago.

Like other prospective solar farms — in Jay County, they include Skycrest Solar planned in Penn and Jackson townships, Rose Gold Solar planned north of Dunkirk and New Jay Solar planned east of Dunkirk — Sun Chief has been working through the regional transmission organization PJM interconnection’s process. Energy companies across the country are experiencing delays amid the process, said Scout Clean Energy east region associate project manager Spencer Micali.

In April 2022, PJM Interconnection announced plans to revamp its analysis process for new electricity services joining the power grid, leading to delays for project studies and approvals. Projects have been divided into three queues, and Sun Chief Solar’s application has been sorted into the “fast track.”

Scout Clean Energy expects to receive confirmation of PJM Interconnection’s study analysis by Sunday. 

The proposed timeline for Sun Chief also anticipates an interconnection service agreement to be in place by May 15, with construction to follow in June. Hopes are to have the solar farm operational by summer 2026.

Despite other prospective solar farms in Jay County starting the process sooner, noted Micali, Sun Chief could be the first among them to begin construction.

Scout requested a two-year extension to the timeline in its economic development agreement and 10-year tax abatement with the county, stipulating construction must begin no later than Dec. 31, 2026, with the work to be completed no later than Dec. 31, 2027.

Scout will save about $3.8 million in property taxes with its 10-year tax abatement approved in November 2021. The company will provide about $1.3 million in economic development payments to the county, and its facility is projected to result in additional $38.9 million in assessed value. It is projected to generate more than $24 million in property taxes over its 35-year life.

Per the updated economic development agreement, the company has also agreed to provide the county its first economic development payment no later than six months following the start of construction. (Previously, the first payment was due no later than 15 days after commercial operations begin.)

Council member Harold Towell noted prospective solar projects in Jay County have been delayed several times over the last few years. He asked what the county and residents will get out of the delays.

County attorney Wes Schemenaur explained the first economic development payment will come in potentially next December, which is around the same time it would have been received with Sun Chief’s previous timeline. He and Micali noted the changes were made to avoid reopening negotiations.

Council approved the amendments on a 3-1 vote with Towell dissenting. Jeanne Houchins and Randy May were absent from the meeting.

Also, council agreed to move forward with advertising a rate change for local income taxes in 2025.

County auditor Emily Franks suggested decreasing the levy freeze rate by 0.05% and increasing the public safety rate by up to 0.1% to account for the addition of three new correctional officer positions at Jay County Jail next year. Council agreed to move forward with the change, which will be formally voted on by October.

In other business, council members Faron Parr, Matt Minnich, Cindy Bracy, Dave Haines and Towell:

•Discussed but took no formal action on adding a third heavy equipment operator position to Jay County Highway Department. Superintendent Bob Howell advocated for the additional worker. Amid discussion, council learned the highway department’s budget in 2025 sits at approximately $5.1 million in expenses, with only approximately $3.9 million expected to come in from taxes and the state. The $1.2 million shortfall will be covered by the department’s cash reserves.

•Approved amending the salary ordinance for the remainder of the year, adding $2,500 stipends for Jay County Clerk on even years and Jay County Auditor every year effective retroactive to Aug. 25 and increasing wages for the following positions: full-time caseload assistant public defender, $3,269.23 per pay effective retroactive to July 1; part-time caseload assistant public defender, $2,615.38 per pay effective retroactive to July 1; chief public defender, $4,522.73 per pay effective retroactive to July 1; assistant highway superintendent, $27.89 per hour effective retroactive to Aug. 11; and Jay County Country Living director, $26.45 per hour effective Sept. 23.

•Agreed to decrease an assistant public defender’s salary in 2025 from $40,732 $38,774.20 to fit in line with suggested wage increases from consulting firm Waggoner, Irwin and Scheele. (Franks noted the increase still amounts to about a 10% raise.)

•OK’d bumping the assistant highway superintendent’s pay in 2025 to $29.54 per hour from $28.70 to keep an 85-cent pay difference from the road foreman position.

•Made the following additional appropriations: $178,500 in American Rescue Plan Act dollars for a contract with Ritter Strategic Services for work related to switching to Indiana Integrated Public Safety Commission’s radio system; $13,200.36 (Towell and Bracy dissenting) to Rundell, Ernstberger Associates for planning development of the county owned 68 acres on the west side of Portland; $6,248 for replacing a totaled Jay County Sheriff’s Office vehicle; $4,938.40 in wages for Jay County Highway Department; $4,000 for appointed doctors or physicians at Jay County Superior Court; $2,500 in wages for Jay County Auditor’s Office; $2,044.45 and $1,598.80 out of grant funding for a new desktop and laptop computer for the nurse at Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

•Heard from Jay County assessor Robin Alberson about plans to host an informational meeting about abatements with Indiana Department of Local Government and Finance from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 at Community Resource Center in Portland.

•Approved several transfers, including $15,142.40 in Jay County Highway Department’s budget from the highway clerk wage fund to the assistant superintendent wage fund and $7,000 in Jay County Country Living’s budget from the financial coordinator fund to the county home superintendent fund.