Locals in the Pulaski County farming community are feeling left in the dark over the proposed solar project with Mammoth Solar and Moss Creek Solar.

 

Mammoth Solar's 1.5-billion-dollar project is set to be the largest solar farm in the US, bringing national attention to Indiana. Mammoth Solar's 13,000 acres running through Pulaski and Starke County, it's expected to eventually generate up to 1.65 gigawatts of electricity when the companies begin operations in 2024. Moss Creek Solar, also known as NextEra, will involve 1,620 addition acres in Pulaski County's Beaver Township.

 

Despite the solar project spurring positive praise from many including Israeli Ambassador to the US Gilad Erdan and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, the locals affected the most are unhappy about the decision and feel ignored and betrayed.

 

With a facade of the solar farms being falsely painted as a saving grace to the rural community by major news outlets, many like former Pulaski County commissioner Terry Young fear that the dollar signs are covering up the larger picture.

 

Young feels that several local officials in the county are more focused on the solar project than they are about economic development, job industry, and following zoning ordinances in Pulaski County.

 

An economic study from Baker Tilly showed there would be an initial job loss of about 77 people in agriculture during the first three years. The tax abatements recently approved by Pulaski County council members and commissioners for the solar companies was like adding gasoline to the flame.

 

In exchange for the 40 million dollar tax abatement, Mammoth Solar offered an Economic Payment plan promising future payments with no published gaurentees. 

Young says the Economic Development Payment Agreement for Mammoth Solar was not read over thoroughly enough and essentially puts the county in a headlock. Young says in the EDP agreement, the company left many fill in that blanks that would allow them to be able to back out in the future without repercussions, but sets the county up to be sued if they chose to back out of the agreement. 

 

Concerned by the potential domino effect the project will bring to the local economy, residents are fighting back. Over five different lawsuits have been filed towards the solar companies to appeal the project by upset property owners.

 

With a flicker of hope, residents don't consider the fight to be over just yet.