Road use agreements approved for Duff Solar Park; residents have concerns
EDP Renewables is expecting to begin work on the Duff Solar Park later this year. A few residents have concerns about the project and spoke at Monday’s Dubois County Commissioners meeting.
Prior to opening the floor for comments, Bridget Chia, Project Manager–Easter Region, gave an update on the project. She reported the company had agreements in place for 1,600 acres of land with plans to use about 500 for the solar panel arrays. The unused portion will be used for setbacks and other easements to connect the panels to the electric grid.
The specific location of these arrays has not been made public due to the ongoing lease negotiations. However, in previous conversations with the group, the land is located near Duff Vectren Substation on County Road South 650 West. The location allows the electricity better access to the electrical grid.
She reiterated that the project represents a capital investment of about $150 million. “From which we expect to generate approximately $25 million in property tax paid to the county over the life of the project and pay $30 million to landowners over the life of the project,” she said.
That life is estimated to be 35 years.
Chia stated they have also completed the environmental and engineering studies. The company is also finalizing a contract with an Indiana-based engineering and construction firm to finalize the project. They are also completing supply agreements with utilities wishing to purchase the electricity produced by the solar park.
The commissioners were considering and ultimately approved the use agreement for several county roads in connection to the construction and operation of the project.
The roads included in the agreement will be upgraded, maintained and returned to their original condition when/if the company decommissions the field.
Here is a list of roads with updates that will be made to accommodate the construction.
During Monday’s meeting, two landowners expressed concerns about the project.
Ron Hopf told the commissioners he was concerned about the road usage agreement. His family has property along County Road 300 South.
He pointed out that the narrowness of some of the roads they will be using is a safety issue. He asked who residents would contact if there were damages to their properties.
The company representatives responded that an employee would be onsite during the construction phase.
Hopf also said that the Greater Jasper School Corporation needed to be notified of the impact on the roads so they could adjust bus routes as needed.
Hopf also said that the landowners and residents along the roads should be notified before the work commences. “Lots of people on (County Road) 260 probably don’t know this is happening,” he told the commissioners.
He told the commissioners that every landowner and resident along the affected roads should be sent a copy of the use agreement.
Another landowner, Arlene Fleck, told commissioners she was concerned about allowing the company to use the roads and approve the road use agreement. “As a landowner, we pay the property taxes,” she said. “I own the road. He owns the road.”
“If you sign the rights over, what rights do we have,” she said.
Commissioner Chad Blessinger said that the public roads are there for use by the residents and anyone traveling through the area. He pointed to the usage agreement and bonding as the county’s avenue to ensure its interests are maintained.
One of the EDP representatives in the commissioner’s meeting explained that the company’s attendance at these public meetings is one way they have attempted to keep the public informed. He added they will be creating a website that can be viewed for updates on the project as things move forward.
Blessinger asked if they could mail something to the residents along the roads to inform them of the plans and information on how to follow the company’s progress.
The representative responded they would ensure the residents along those roads would be informed.
Councilman Nick Hostetter said the county was making efforts to take care of the roads while allowing the landowners to do what they want with their property–lease or not lease to EDP.
The decision to ratify the road use agreement was unanimous.
Previous stories on this project in chronological order.
