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Ranger Power addresses solar leases, tax abatements and decommissioning for proposed Washington County project
Summary
Ranger Power representative Owen Speth told the Washington County Plan Commission July 1 that the company has not decided whether to seek tax abatements, said abatements "would not cause a neighbor's taxes to rise," described proprietary lease terms and a 40-year lease structure with 5-year extension options, and told commissioners that bonding or resale value can cover decommissioning costs.
Owen Speth, representing Ranger Power, briefed the Washington County Plan Commission on July 1 about how Ranger Power approaches farm-based solar projects, local permitting and lease terms.
Speth told commissioners the company had not decided whether to pursue tax abatements for a proposed Washington County project and said that "tax abatements would not cause a neighbor's taxes to rise." He disputed a suggestion that public utilities do not pay taxes, saying that public-utility status does not exempt projects from tax obligations in the way sometimes alleged.
Speth described lease confidentiality: leases contain proprietary information and Ranger Power limits distribution to the contract holder to protect intellectual property. He said there is no provision in Ranger Power's lease that requires a property owner to perform cleanup or decommissioning if the owner goes bankrupt. Speth outlined typical commercial lease terms offered to landowners: up to 40 years in initial term with options to extend in five-year increments.
On financial assurances, Speth said Ranger Power is required to ensure bonding either through the landowner or a government entity and that the equipment itself retains resale value that, even before end-of-life, would likely cover decommissioning costs. He said Ranger Power relies in part on tax credits that may change but that the loss of those incentives would not necessarily end a project.
Commissioners asked whether Ranger Power or landowners have been party to lawsuits in Indiana over similar projects. Marsha Dailey asked specifically about lawsuits against Indiana counties or farmers; Speth replied Ranger Power has projects in Indiana and multiple Midwestern states (Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois) and said he was not aware of any farmers in Indiana who have sued Ranger Power. He encouraged landowners to seek attorney review of leases before signing and agreed to return to the commission's August meeting to answer follow-up questions. Ranger Power handed out a sample solar ordinance from Miami County and informational materials.
What was not decided Speth said Ranger Power had not made a final decision on seeking tax abatements for the Washington County project. The company indicated it would work with a county ordinance that is "reasonable and well thought out," but did not commit to specific local terms or bonding arrangements beyond saying that bonding is required.
Next steps Ranger Power will return in August for additional questions; staff and commissioners will consider the sample ordinance and the public concerns raised earlier in the meeting.
