The Pulaski County Council members discussed two preliminary resolutions for the establishment of an Economic Revitalization Area for two Doral Renewables projects.
Resolution 2025-05 states that Starke Solar, LLC, d/b/a Mammoth Solar has requested the modification of parcels of about 684.56 acres over 11 parcels to be designated as an Economic Revitalization Area for the purpose of achieving a deduction of assessed valuation attributable to redevelopment or rehabilitation activities and the installation of new manufacturing equipment for generating electricity from solar energy for the public grid.
Resolution 2025-06 states that Mammoth Grazing Lands, LLC has requested approximately 7,686.7844 acres across 137 parcels be designated as an Economic Revitalization Area for the purpose of achieving a deduction to assessed valuation attributable to redevelopment of rehabilitation activities and the installation of new manufacturing equipment for generating electricity from solar energy for the public grid.
There are purposes of agrivoltaics within the projects.
The resolutions would start the process of obtaining the necessary studies and more documentation to be presented during public hearings in April before a final decision is made by the Pulaski County Council.
This requires a new permitting process. It was noted that the tax abatement would be personal property equipment for the solar panels and ancillary equipment installed on the acres proposed for abatement.
Many residents expressed confusion on the resolutions, specifically the lack of taxes being brought into the county, and opposed the resolutions. Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer explained that economic development payments are being paid in lieu of property taxes and those payments can be used for any expenditure deemed necessary by the council as they review requests. Only the equipment would be abated.
There were a few who spoke in favor of the resolutions citing agrivoltaics involved with the inclusion of sheep and other animals allowed to graze in the proposed areas, and the ability to diversify farmland with solar.
After much discussion, a motion was made to deny the resolutions which was approved by Council members Brad Bonnell, AJ Gutwein and Tim Overmyer. Council members Jeff Richwine, Mike Tiede, and Sheila Jimenez voted against the motion. Councilman Jerry Locke abstained from the discussion and vote He submitted a conflict of interest form to the Pulaski County Commissioners during a joint session of the council and commissioners prior to the regular meeting of the council which entertained this topic. Due to the tie vote, the resolutions were rejected.
