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Rosebud County approves tax‑abatement package for Clearwater Solar and battery project
Summary
The Rosebud County commissioners voted Dec. 16 to file and approve four resolutions to grant tax abatements for a multi‑phase Clearwater Solar project and associated battery storage, citing recent state law changes that affect how newly taxable value is returned to local taxpayers.
On Dec. 16, the Rosebud County Board of Commissioners voted to file and approve resolutions to grant tax abatements for the Clearwater Solar projects and an associated battery‑storage facility.
Commissioner discussion and staff remarks centered on state law changes and local fiscal impacts. A county representative (listed in the transcript as committee member S2) said the county held three public meetings and that attendees were broadly supportive of the abatement. The chair (speaker S1) explained that legislation identified in the record as 'SB 117' amended statute referred to in the transcript as '15 10 4 20', and that the change reduced the county’s share of newly taxable value unless an abatement is offered.
According to figures given in the meeting, the project is phased (referred to in the transcript as Clearwater Solar 1, Solar 2, Solar 3 and Solar East) and includes battery storage. The transcript cites a project cost of roughly $1,800,000,000 and an estimated $300,000,000 in property‑tax revenue over the life of the project. Meeting remarks placed groundbreaking in early 2027, with completion in 2029 and tax benefits to the county beginning in the 2030 tax year. The speakers also noted that county oil‑related revenues have declined substantially in recent years, increasing interest in new sources of revenue.
The motion to approve the abatements was moved and seconded and the chair called the vote; the motion carried. The record contains verbal "Aye" responses and the chair’s statement that the motion carried but does not record a numerical roll‑call tally or individual votes by name.
What it means: county officials said the abatements are intended to unlock the full immediate taxable value for the project under the county’s interpretation of the amended state law and to attract the multi‑phase renewable project. Opponents were not recorded on the transcript and no public opposition is recorded on the meeting record provided.
Next steps: the commissioners filed and approved the resolutions during the meeting; any further permitting, transmission‑line or state approvals necessary for construction were not detailed on the record.
