The Marion County Board has given conditional approval to two community solar farms under the county’s new solar and wind ordinance. They are Dimension Energy who is proposing a facility on US 50 a mile east of Sandoval and Solar Generation who has designed a facility on Community Beech Road just off U.S. 51 south of Sandoval.
Dimension Energy had asked for their application to be expedited so they could seek funding under a state program that would give more benefits back to the community. Both companies value the cost of their developments at around $15-million and hope to begin construction next spring. Each would produce about five megawatts of power, enough to power 1,300 homes. They would cover about 25 acres and would have screening to neighboring properties.
Dimension Energy expected their facility to generate $560,000 in property taxes over the first 20 years of its life. Their initial property lease is for 25 years with an option for an additional five years.
As community facilities each would allow subscriptions that could lower Ameren Electric bills to participants by about ten percent.
Dimension Energy still has to have their project reviewed by the county’s consultant, while Solar Generation has passed that hurdle.
