A decision on a proposed solar farm in Putnam County has been delayed two more months following a series of recent events.
After Putnam County passed its new comprehensive plan, Cold Spring Solar submitted an application for rezoning and the Putnam County Area Plan Commission responded with a 6-3 vote in favor of denying the rezone.
Leading up to the Area Plan Commission meeting, Nick Gentry, spokesman for Cold Spring Solar, told the Putnam County Post the company was confident its application would "meet or exceed all requirements outlined under this process."
"If approved, Cold Spring Solar would deliver more than $6 million in economic development payments, new jobs and a source of long term tax revenue in Putnam County," Gentry said.
However, earlier this week, officials with Cold Spring Solar asked the Putnam County Commissioners to table a decision on rezoning 1,200 acres until April 1. In a separate email to The Putnam County Post, Gentry said the request was made to allow Cold Spring Solar officials time to make certain the commissioners have all the information they need to approve the rezoning.
"Arevon and Cold Spring Solar are committed to working in partnership with county leaders and the community. We are confident that our project will benefit all residents of Putnam County and look forward to providing additional information on solar technology and our project. Cold Spring is grateful to the Board for their understanding and consideration," Gentry said.
Last September, the Putnam County Board of Zoning Appeals denied a motion to approve a special exception for a proposed 200-megawatt solar farm on 1,400 acres of farmland in Russell Township in Putnam County.
The potential solar farm has been in discussion for more than a year and a half as officials with Tenaska and Arevon have worked to try to bring it to Putnam County. The proposed solar farm has received a tax abatement from the county council, and a $6 million economic development agreement with the commissioners, while officials have said Cold Spring Solar Farm would bring in more than $40 million paid in taxes and 214 direct jobs.
Jeffrey Lee, director of community relations for Arevon Energy, said landowners in Putnam County chose to lease land to host the project and it has been designed to meet the stringent requirements of Putnam County's solar ordinance.
"The Cold Spring Solar project would occupy less than one percent of the agricultural land in Putnam County, while creating more than 300 construction jobs and delivering an impressive $6.3 million in economic development payments to the county. Over the course of the project's lifetime, Cold Spring Solar will contribute approximately $75 million in tax revenue to the community. We believe that landowners have the right to use their private property as they see fit, and that the local government should not infringe on those rights," he said.
Lee added Cold Spring has been "actively engaged" with the community since the beginning of the development process.
"Our dedication to transparency and open dialogue is evident in the establishment of a local office, support for community events and hosting an informational open house. The Cold Spring Solar team addressed questions from the public and provided detailed studies and technical information to demonstrate that Cold Spring Solar would be safe, reliable and a good neighbor to the community," Lee said.
