Greene County approves preliminary ERA for Worthington Solar; developer seeks 10‑year, 100% abatement

Representing Panorama Power, Ben Adovich told the council the company is developing Worthington Solar LLC near the intersection of highways 57 and 67 and requested the county designate the project area as an economic revitalization area (ERA) so the developer can negotiate a tax abatement and economic development agreement. “We are respectfully requesting approval for an economic revitalization area in order to proceed with the next step of negotiating a tax, an economic development agreement and tax abatement with the county,” Adovich said.

Adovich said property owners were solicited in 2019–2020 and that mapping shows gaps where land is in FEMA floodplain. He said ALTA surveys are underway for leased tracts and that legal descriptions and assessor notices will be attached to the preliminary resolution. On the proposed tax terms, Adovich and county counsel explained the developer intends to guarantee a minimum payment equal to 15% of assessed value on personal property as a floor against the current state depreciation rate the presenter described as 0%.

County counsel clarified the council was being asked to establish the ERA only; any final abatement and the specific economic development agreement will be subject to a confirmatory resolution after a public hearing. “Today is simply do you want to establish the area as an economic revitalization area?” counsel said, and noted a public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15.

During the meeting there was brief public comment from one attendee who said he was a 30‑year coal miner and could not get on board with solar or wind energy. The council moved to approve the preliminary resolution; the motion carried with recorded votes in the audio record: Yes — Brian, Randall, Karen, and Unidentified Speaker 1; No — Ron. The council adopted the preliminary resolution and the matter will return for a confirmatory resolution and final terms after the Dec. 15 hearing.