PERU – An Indiana power company wants to build a new solar farm somewhere in the state, and Miami County officials say they want it to be built in Peru.
The Indiana Municipal Power Agency, a wholesale electric power provider serving 59 cities and towns in Indiana, including Peru, plans to construct a 1-megawatt solar farm in one the communities where it provides electricity, said Jim Tidd, executive director of the Miami County Economic Development Authority.
The company has already selected Richmond, Frankton and Rensselaer to build solar farms, and Tidd said Miami County officials want Peru to be the site of the company’s next project.
The Miami County Council took the first step Tuesday to entice the company to Peru by declaring its intent to turn the proposed project location into an economic revitalization area, which would allow the company to receive tax abatements.
Tidd said he hopes the prospect of economic assistance will put Peru a step ahead of other communities going after the solar park.
He said there aren’t details on how large the project will be, but the energy produced by the solar panels would likely be distributed to all the cities and town serviced by the IMPA.
The solar park in Frankton consists of 4,000 solar grids that generate 1 megawatt of power at peak efficiency, which can supply power to 1,000 homes, according to the IMPA’s website.
Tidd said if the company chooses to build in Peru, the project would be located on a 6 acre plot owned by Peru Utilities just outside city limits on Jackson Avenue.
Besides the novelty of having a solar farm, he said the project would increase tax revenue for the county and help provide clean energy throughout the state.
A public hearing on establishing the economic revitalization area for the company is set for 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16. After the hearing, the Miami County Council can vote to approve tax abatements for the project.
Tidd said more details on the solar farm will be available at September’s meeting.