Developer Seeks ERA Adjustment and Five-Year Abatement as Gibson County Holds Public Hearing on Francisco Solar

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 development agreement (EDA) payments.

RWE’s presentation summarized the project: 200–250 MW expected to power what the company described as about 43,000 homes, a minimum $300,000,000 investment in Gibson County, roughly 1,300 acres to be covered with panels out of about 3,800 leased acres, and a conservative estimate of about 150 construction jobs and one to two full‑time operations jobs after commercial operation. The team said delays in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) interconnection queue — including an early queue withdrawal by a previous developer and multi‑year delays in MISO’s Phase 1 studies — are the main reasons the company is seeking extended deadlines.

County finance and tax analysis: Baker Tilly’s Eckerle said Senate Enrolled Act 1 eliminated the previous 30% depreciation floor for equipment placed in service after Jan. 1, 2025, so equipment can depreciate to zero under current federal/IRS depreciation tables. "Senate Enrolled Act 1 changed that. It eliminated that 30% depreciation floor," Eckerle said, adding the firm will quantify tax outcomes both with and without the abatement and model phased in-service timing to show earlier taxable components if applicable. The firm also said it would work with the county assessor to refine timing assumptions.

Public questions and concerns: Dozens of residents asked whether construction and permanent jobs will be local; RWE representatives said they intend to source locally when feasible but cannot guarantee every hire will be from Gibson County. Residents asked whether the project's generation serves local homes; the developer said electricity flows onto the regional grid and is not guaranteed to be purchased locally, though it will feed the local distribution area.

Neighbors raised environmental and quality‑of‑life concerns. Questions included who pays lease payments to landowners (developers said leases are private but estimated aggregate lease payments of roughly $40–$60 million over the project's life), whether panels and component waste will be recycled (RWE said it has recycling agreements and will follow state and federal disposal rules), how panels affect property values (developers said they have not seen a consistent decrease in assessed property values around operating projects), and drainage/runoff impacts (developers will submit drainage plans for county and third‑party review). A resident also asked how the county could "stop" the project; county staff said the project must comply with the county's permit checklist, drainage and solar ordinances and other requirements, and that the council votes on tax abatement but permitting and zoning processes are separate and administered by the commissioners and county staff.

Decommissioning and emergency response: RWE and county staff confirmed a decommissioning agreement is part of the permitting/EDA discussions and that the developer is coordinating with Francisco Fire Department and other local emergency responders on an emergency response plan and training. The presenters said EDA payments can be structured to support volunteer fire departments and other local needs.

What did not happen tonight: The council opened and closed the statutorily required public hearing; there was no vote on abatement or the ERA boundary at this meeting. County staff and Baker Tilly said they will update fiscal models and continue negotiating EDA terms with the developer; the commissioners and council will consider formal approval in subsequent meetings.

Next steps: Baker Tilly will update its tax and revenue analysis to reflect recent land-assessment changes. Negotiations over EDA payment levels, any floor above zero for equipment depreciation, and distribution of community impact payments will continue between the developer, county negotiators and the commissioners; any formal abatement or EDA approval would require a future council or commissioner action as specified by statute and local rules.