Project Details
The Ratts 1 Solar Project
Capital Dynamics and Tenaska are proud to be developing the Ratts 1 Solar Project, located in Pike County, Indiana.
Here is a snapshot of the project:
Size
150 megawatts (MW)
Location
Pike County, Indiana. The power will be transmitted to the Hoosier Energy substation at Ratts-Victory interconnection point.
Land Area
The project will have a footprint of approximately 1,200 acres of land to locate solar panel arrays, an operations and maintenance building, inverters and access roads.
Investment
$128 million direct investment
Power Generation
The project is expected to generate enough solar energy to power the average electricity consumption of approximately 28,000 Indiana homes each year.
Project Life
Once constructed, the project has a 35-year useful life. After this time, it will be decommissioned in accordance with an agreed-upon decommissioning plan and bond.
Economic Development Study
A study conducted in June by Gnarly Tree Sustainability Institute, in collaboration with Dr. Kenneth Richards of Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, reported that the Ratts 1 project would bring broad economic benefits to Pike County, including:
Direct Construction Jobs
Employment of varying durations for approximately 350 people within the county, or the equivalent of 188 full-time, full-year jobs.
Direct Operations Jobs
Full-time employment for four workers overseeing operations and maintenance for the expected 35-year project life.
Local Goods and Services
Annual expenditures on goods and services in excess of $350,000 per year for 35 years.
Gross Domestic Product
Contribution of $19.3 million to Pike County GDP during construction with an additional $800,000 per year during operations.
Economic Ripples
Additional jobs and spending as an indirect outcome of economic activities created by the project.
Benefits
Community Benefits
- Generates property and sales tax revenue for schools, first responders and other local needs
- Compensates landowners for land use providing stable income source for over 35 years
- Contracts with local businesses and services
- Does not place heavy burden on government-supported services like schools and roads
- Results in secondary economic activity for local restaurants, hotels and other retail and wholesale businesses
Power Benefits
- Does not need external fuel inputs, reducing transportation risks and increasing reliability
- Will help Indiana meet its power needs
Environmental Benefits
- Produces zero-emissions power that does not contribute to local pollution or global climate change
- Generates power with no noise or smell
- Will help Indiana meet its clean energy and climate goals
Timeline
MID-2020
Local Agreements
The team will produce an initial engineering layout and environmental review for the project and seek the required local approvals needed to move the project forward.
MID-2020
Engineering and permitting.
EARLY 2021
Final approval.
2021/2022
Begin construction.
2022/2023
Pike County project is completed and operating.
