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St. Joseph County approves decommissioning agreement for Notre Dame solar array
Summary
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a decommissioning agreement for a Notre Dame solar installation that exceeds the county's 40,000-square-foot threshold for such agreements; staff said the agreement meets county ordinance and legal review.
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on May 6 approved a decommissioning agreement for a solar array planned by the University of Notre Dame along State Road 933.
County staff said the project's panel area exceeds the county's 40,000-square-foot threshold that triggers a formal decommissioning agreement. "This is for Notre Dame solar project on the East Side of State Road 933. They're just over the 40,000 square footed square feet of panel area that requires this decommissioning agreement. It does fully meet the ordinance, and I believe that your legal counsel has reviewed it as well," said Sean Cline, county staff.
The board voted to approve the agreement. Commissioner Hazen and Commissioner Backmeyer both voted "aye"; the motion carried.
The agreement requires the owner to provide for eventual removal and site restoration in line with county standards. County staff did not provide ordinance citations or the decommissioning financial assurance amount at the meeting. The agreement was described as meeting the county ordinance and as having been reviewed by legal counsel.
The board did not solicit further public comment on the item during the meeting. No implementation timeline or estimated decommissioning cost was provided on the record.
The approval allows the Notre Dame project to proceed with the county-required decommissioning protections in place; other permits or approvals for the solar installation were not discussed at length during the commissioners' meeting.
