Council approves ad valorem tax agreement for Project Creed solar project; decommissioning, bond discussed
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Summary
Kershaw County approved a FILO/ad valorem tax agreement for a proposed 48-megawatt solar project (Project Creed). Council discussed decommissioning, bonding and expected revenue; the measure passed on second reading.
Kershaw County Council voted on Feb. 11, 2025, to approve an ad valorem tax incentive and a special source revenue credit for a proposed solar facility identified in county documents as Project Creed.
Economic development staff and company representatives said Project Creed would be a roughly $67 million investment for a 48-megawatt facility, with about 377 acres identified in planning materials. Jeff Burgess, Kershaw County economic development director, told council the FILO agreement in front of the body equates to $3,800 per megawatt and the county can expect approximately $182,400 per year in revenue from the agreement as structured.
Company representatives from Grenergy — including Taylor Robinson and Catherine Ross — appeared and said the project includes a decommissioning plan and that the project would provide about 200 short-term construction jobs. The company told the planning commission and council that the decommissioning plan will be updated every five years, that salvage value calculations are included and that the county’s ordinance requires a minimum $50,000 bond in addition to a cost estimate for decommissioning.
County staff explained the county’s ordinance requires decommissioning estimates to be updated periodically and that the county’s current approach would require a decommissioning estimate and potentially a security equal to 125% of the engineer’s cost estimate if market conditions reversed. Council members asked for additional detail on the decommissioning guarantees and requested that staff provide comparative information about decommissioning bidders and guarantees before final adoption.
Councilman John Cato expressed reservations and voted against the measure, citing broader concerns about solar projects’ long-term impacts and tax values; Councilman Jimmy Jones also opposed. The agreement passed on second reading with the vote recorded as Yes: Shoemake, Brazel, Connell, Tomlinson, Tucker; No: Cato, Jones.
Council asked staff to return with any follow-up material on bonding, decommissioning contractors and tax projections before final (third) reading.
