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Developer Seeks ERA Adjustment and Five-Year Abatement as Gibson County Holds Public Hearing on Francisco Solar
Summary
Developers of the proposed Francisco Solar project presented a request to adjust an existing economic revitalization area and to extend construction and operations deadlines, seeking a five-year, 100% property-tax abatement. County consultants said they will update tax models after recent state valuation changes; residents raised concerns about jobs, drainage, property values and decommissioning.
FRANCISCO, Gibson County — Developers of Francisco Solar told a Gibson County Council public hearing that the 200–250 megawatt project represents a minimum $300 million investment and asked the council to preliminarily establish an adjusted economic revitalization area (ERA) and to allow the public hearing required by state law.
The developer team, which introduced Oliver (director of development for RWE) and other RWE representatives, requested extensions to EDA deadlines: move project construction commencement to March 1, 2027; complete construction by Dec. 31, 2029; and set commercial operations by Dec. 31, 2029. The company also asked the council to consider a five-year, 100% property-tax abatement on the utility-distributable property associated with the project.
Why it matters: County consultants said changes in state rules and land-assessed values materially affect the local tax outcomes the council can expect. Matt Eckerle of Baker Tilly told the council the firm prepared a preliminary analysis but must update it to account for recent changes in land valuation and a state law change that removed a prior 30% depreciation floor for business personal property. Those updates will determine how much new revenue the county would gain directly and how much would be addressed through negotiated economic…
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