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The renewable energy arm of a Canadian pension fund has proposed a 108-megawatt solar field on 512 acres of farmland in Harrison Township.
Union Ridge Solar, a subsidiary of Leeward Renewable Energy, announced plans to construct the solar field near the AEP Kirk substation on Watkins Road north of Refugee Road.
The development could meet demand for power by Facebook, Google and Amazon datacenters in western Licking County and could provide a financial windfall for property tax recipients, especially Southwest Licking Schools.
Union Ridge would pay a flat fee of least $753,000 annually for 30 years, or $22.6 million, if the project receives the required state and local approvals for the Qualified Energy Tax Exemption Program. The minimum payment would be in lieu of taxes, based on a state law assessing $7,000 per megawatt for such solar and wind fields. The amount could be increased up to $9,000 per megawatt, or $969,300 annually.