Harrison County Commission approves resolution authorizing power plant agreements

The agreements would, in effect, extend agreements that were in place with Energy Solutions Consortium (ESC), a company that was previously the lead developer of the project. Those agreements were initially signed in 2015 and construction was expected to begin in 2019, but it was ultimately determined the project was not feasible at that time.

“The project was kind of shelved for a bit, but now a different developer is interested in pursuing it, and it’s been determined if things fall in line the way that they are hoping, that there is feasibility in respect to this project now,” said attorney Tom Aman of Steptoe & Johnson, the county’s legal counsel on the matter.

Under the revised plan, Wolf Summit Energy would take the place of ESC as developer. The commission would enter into an option agreement with the Harrison County Development Authority signing the property over to the authority. The Development Authority, in turn, would have a separate agreement with Wolf Summit Energy under which the authority would sign the property over to the company once the project moves forward.

The Development Authority is involved as an intermediary “due to difficulties under state law with the county being able to directly transfer property to a private party,” Aman said.

Wolf Summit Energy would make payments to the county in lieu of taxes to reduce the real estate tax burden. If the option is exercised, the company would purchase the property at a cost of $10,000 per acre.

Revisions to the original contracts with ESC were made due to concerns raised by the commission. A provision was removed that would have allowed for a reduction of the purchase price by the amount spent by the company on infrastructure investments required to get the property ready for the development.

The commission also would have to agree if the developer should decide not to purchase any piece of the property when exercising the option under the revised agreement.

The developer also agreed to provide a site plan to the commission and quarterly updates on progress.

The agreements would expire in December 2024 unless all parties agree to an extension.

The Development Authority has yet to vote on the matter.

If approved, the agreements will allow Wolf Summit Energy to continue with permitting and agreements required for the project and to ultimately secure financing.

The company hopes to having financing in place by 2024. Construction would likely take three years, putting completion of the project sometime in 2027, “if all the stars line up,” Aman said.

Also on Friday, the commission approved payment of a master equipment lease-purchase agreement requisition for payment of $576,710 to Statewide Lincoln Ford for 11 2022-2023 Ford Police Interceptor vehicles for the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.

Although the initial meeting agenda listed a cost of $578,710, there was a typo, according to County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis.

The payment covers most but not all of the law enforcement vehicles that are on their way to the county, according to Commission President Susan Thomas.

“We are still waiting on one, so we’ve got some more money coming (to be paid),” she said.