CADIZ — The proposed Nottingham Solar facility project took another step forward after the Harrison County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution with company representatives.

During a Dec. 21 meeting, Dylan Borchers, energy, environment and utilities attorney at Bricker & Eckler, presented the document to Commissioners Amy Norris, Paul Coffland and Don Bethel. He said it was a follow up to the “tax abatement and payment in lieu of taxes” for the solar facility project that was discussed at an earlier meeting in the fall.

Borchers said the PILOT range for the life of the project is between $7,000 and $9,000 per megawatt each year. The proposed project is a 100-megawatt facility that will occupy 580 acres in Athens Township meaning, it will pay the county $700,000-$900,000 annually.

The resolution states that an Ohio Department of Development-qualified project using renewable energy resources will be “exempt from real and tangible personal property taxation if certain conditions are satisfied.” Instead, the company will pay an annual PILOT fee to the county.

Coffland noted that the funds incurred from the project will go toward the Harrison Hills City School District, Belmont-Harrison Joint Vocational, Athens Township, General Health District, Puskarich Public Library and the county’s general fund.

Borchers spoke of the project’s next steps. He said the facility submitted its application to the ODD, and the ODD will contact commissioners to inquire if the request signed during the meeting was, in fact, approved.

Bethel said the project is a win-win.

“Not only does the county and entities within the county get funding but also the property that you are using, it’s almost the only thing that can be used there. We’re not using private property, it’s stripland that probably wouldn’t be touched if this wasn’t happening,” he said.

Borchers added that this was the first project approved by the Ohio Power Siting Board on a reclaimed strip mine.

“So the current tax revenue from that land is very small,” he said, adding that it is around $40,000 annually.

“It’s a good deal for the county,” Bethel added.

After unanimously approving the resolution, Lori Cuervo, project manager for Nottingham Solar, thanked commissioners.

“We’re looking forward to working in the county, to having more jobs in the county and you might not usually hear this, but paying taxes in the county,” she added.

Also during the meeting, officials bid farewell to Bethel during what would be his final meeting as commissioner. Bethel lost his seat in the primary election to challenger Dustin Corder who began his term at the start of the new year.

“On behalf of the people of Harrison County, I’d like to thank you for 12 years of service,” Coffland said. “… One of the things that I think was very important that you helped spur on was dividing up and securing some of these funds into capital improvements for youth and recreation. We’ve done a lot of great projects across the county with those funds, so your foresight in not letting everybody blow all that money was appreciated.”

Bethel said he is most proud of cleaning up the statues, getting the courthouse clock running, and helping to beautify the county.

“I’ve been blessed by my time here, make no mistake about that, so thank you for the opportunity. The ride was great,” he said, adding that it was a pleasure working with everyone in the county.