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Bay County approves revenue bond for MBS International Airport solar project
Summary
The Bay County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-40 authorizing MBS International Airport to issue a revenue bond to finance solar canopies and ground-mounted arrays; airport director James Kanter said the bond carries no obligation for county taxpayers and will reduce the airport's energy costs.
The Bay County Board of Commissioners on March 18 approved Resolution 2025-40 permitting MBS International Airport to issue a revenue bond to fund solar canopies and ground-mounted arrays at the airport.
Airport Director James Kanter told the board the bond is a revenue bond guaranteed by the airport and its bond agent, D.A. Davidson, and “will not impact the finances of Bay County whatsoever.” He said the project will place solar canopies primarily over the short-term parking lot and ground arrays around the administration building and airfield to reduce the terminal’s energy use by about 35 percent and, together with a sister project over the rental car lot, to reduce building energy use by roughly 52 percent.
Kanter estimated the contract at about $7,300,000 and projected annual energy savings of approximately $400,000. He said the airport expects to claim tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that would reduce the project cost by about $2,000,000. The project will also add electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, including Level 2 chargers in the short-term lot, Level 1 chargers in the long-term lot, and one publicly accessible fast (Level 3) charger near the hangar line; Kanter said the airport is also preparing for electric aircraft.
The board opened and closed a public hearing on the bonds after no members of the public addressed the board. Following the public hearing the board moved to approve the revenue bond resolution; the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.
Discussion versus decision: Kanter’s remarks and the board’s public-hearing process were on the record as the factual basis for the board’s vote. There was one brief question from a commissioner about the project schedule; Kanter said, if bonds are approved, construction would start around the end of May and likely take two to three months to complete.
Next steps: Kanter said the airport must complete bond issuance and public-disclosure requirements to achieve the best bond rate. The board did not specify additional conditions during the meeting.
