Battery Project Hearing Oct. 26

Fayette County Commissioners Court will consider a property tax abatement proposal for an electric grid battery storage project.

The Commissioners Court set a public hearing for Oct. 26 to update the County’s guidelines and criteria for tax abatement proposals. Evan Horn with the professional services firm EY requested the public hearing. Horn spoke to the Commissioners at their meeting Thursday, Oct. 12.

“What we’re talking about is the initial document, the guidelines and criteria,” Horn said. “This doesn’t commit the County to anything. It just sets minimum thresholds for applicants. So in order for the Court to even consider, they would have to meet those. So it could be investment thresholds.”

The tax abatement guidelines and criteria expire after two years. Fayette County last updated the guidelines and criteria in 2020 for the 7V Solar Farm Project in Muldoon.

Horn, who also served as a consultant on the 7V development, did not say what kind of project is seeking a tax abatement. After the meeting Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom told the Record that he is recusing himself from all deliberations and votes concerning the tax abatement. McBroom said the developers want to build a battery storage project for the electric grid on property that he currently owns due to its location next to an electrical substation.

Grid battery projects store energy from the electric grid during times of low power demand and then return it to the grid during times of peak demand. The technology helps to stabilize demand on the electric grid. The previous guidelines and criteria for tax abatements specified a minimum investment threshold of $10 million. Developers had to pay a $1,000 application fee. The public hearing will take place during the regular Commissioners meeting on Oct. 26, at 9 a.m.