Council approves six-month extension to Taylor Solar lease; annual rent payment deferred

The DeKalb City Council on May 27 approved Resolution 2025-055 authorizing a third amendment to the land lease and solar easement agreement with Taylor Solar LLC (SunVest), extending the developer timeline and delaying the start of the project’s operating term and the city's associated annual rent payment.

City Manager Bill Nicholas told the council that construction is well under way but that multiple state-level delays and slower processes have pushed project completion past the previously expected June operating start. "The request is to go to the end of the year. Realistically, the project will not be able to open and be open and operating at the June," Nicholas said; staff recommended granting the extension.

The extension will delay the city’s annual rent payment timeline; Nicholas said the full annual rent of $91,200 would have been due Feb. 15 if the operating term had begun on the original schedule. The council voted 7-0 to approve the resolution.

SunVest representatives attended the meeting; the company’s vice president of project development, Mr. Dalseth, was present in the audience. City staff said the extension is intended to align the development and operating terms with actual completion and commissioning of the project.

Resolution 2025-055 passed by voice/roll call and the city indicated it expects to finalize operating-term milestones later in 2025 once state permitting and contractor work are completed.