Jay County approves road-use addendum for Sun Chief Solar project

Duane Monroe, president of the Jay County Commissioners, and the board unanimously approved an addendum to the Sun Chief Solar road‑use agreement after a presentation by Spencer Micali, project manager for the developer Scout Clean Energy.

Micali reviewed three maps included as appendices: Map #1 showing transportation routes, Map #2 identifying 10 proposed driveways, and Map #3 depicting the underground collection lines that will connect sections of the solar farm. He said paved‑road crossings will be bored beneath the road and gravel‑road crossings will be trenched, noting trenching planned on 800 W between 400 S and 500 S. Micali also told commissioners, “the solar farm should be delivered over a couple of hundred trucks carrying the units in modules,” and said the modular loads would be smaller and less damaging than a previous wind project. He identified Joe Gallagher as the project’s transportation coordinator to serve as the point of contact for the highway department and the school superintendent.

Commissioner Chad Aker raised concerns about trucks using recently paved 400 S between Highway 1 and Highway 67; Duane Monroe said he was worried about large vehicles negotiating sharp turns on 600 S and 600 W and suggested 700 W or 800 W as alternates. County attorney Wes Schemenaur advised keeping whole sections of 400 S and other sensitive stretches in the agreement so the county may require remediation for any damage documented in the post‑construction inventory. Following discussion, Aker moved to approve the addendum including the presented appendices; Doug Horn seconded and the motion carried unanimously.