Delaware County officials have approved tax abatements for two county solar power projects. As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, the projects near Gaston and Albany won’t start construction for more than a year.

Just west of Gaston, the Meadow Forge solar project will encompass about 1,000 acres and generate 163 megawatts of power. The Chicago-based parent company says that’s enough to power 30,000 homes each day.

The project will lease the land for 35 years from 16 landowners. When construction begins – expected in early 2023 – it will create more than 100 temporary construction jobs. Then, there will be two permanent jobs on the solar site.

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Adrian Markocic is with North Carolina-based NARENCO – which is heading another solar project south of Albany and north and east of the Muncie Dragway. He says solar projects are good neighbors.

“Once complete, a solar farm is a passive, non-intrusive neighbor that generates no noise, light pollution, or odors.”

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The Hawthorn Solar project will encompass land on both sides of State Road 67 and generate 75 megawatts of power – or equivalent power for 15,000 homes. It is leasing from four property owners.

At this site, when construction begins – expected in late 2024 – it will create more than 200 temporary construction jobs. Then, there will be up to 7 permanent jobs on the solar site.

Before the county council voted on the tax abatements, no one spoke at public hearings on the two projects.