Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solar Project topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carbon County approves interlocal and RDA agreements to advance RC Solar project
Summary
The Carbon County Board of Commissioners and its Redevelopment Agency approved interlocal and participation agreements to establish the RC Solar Community Reinvestment Project Area; the developer said the project will fund local scholarships and rely on tax-sharing agreements with other local taxing entities.
The Carbon County Board of Commissioners voted to approve resolutions authorizing interlocal and redevelopment-agency agreements to establish the RC Solar Community Reinvestment Project Area, clearing a critical step for a proposed phase‑two solar development north of the existing graphite project.
The action, taken by voice vote after a presentation from the developer, allows the county to enter agreements with other local taxing entities so a portion of incremental tax revenue can be held and returned under a community reinvestment arrangement. Unidentified Speaker 3 said the agreements require each taxing entity — including the school district, Price River Water Improvement District and the Water Conservancy District — to decide whether to forward tax increments to the developer to make the project financially viable.
Luigi S., president and CEO of R Plus Energies, described the site as located on State Land Trust and the Jensen property and said the company has contributed scholarships to local students. "I think we're over 450,000 of scholarships to the community," Luigi S. said, citing prior scholarship work tied to the graphite and Green River solar projects. He also warned of contractual uncertainty with potential offtake partners and federal tariff and Inflation Reduction Act timing but said completing the community reinvestment agreement is a critical next step.
County staff and commissioners outlined how the tax flows will be managed under state statute: the county will withhold 10% of received tax increments for a housing fund for starter and affordable homes, set aside 3% for administration, and divide the remaining funds between the taxing entities and the developer as outlined in the interlocal agreements. Unidentified Speaker 3 summarized the process and described the outcome as necessary to hold back initial tax receipts and make the project's financing work.
Commissioners made and seconded a motion to approve Resolution 2025‑01 authorizing the interlocal agreement for the RC Solar Community Reinvestment Project Area; the motion passed by voice vote. The board then adjourned and convened as the Carbon County Redevelopment Agency to approve related RDA resolutions: RDA2025‑1 (execution of interlocal agreements) and RDA2025‑2 (participation agreement). Both RDA resolutions were approved by voice vote.
Next steps include final execution of the interlocal and participation agreements and continued work on the project's offtake contracts and permitting. No numeric roll-call votes were recorded in the meeting transcript; approvals were taken by voice vote.
