Representatives of two solar projects in Starke County provided updates on their progress during the Starke County Plan Commission meeting Wednesday, October 14th.
The North Bend and Starke Central solar projects have a combined permitted capacity of 410 megawatts. North Bend, located northeast of Bass Lake, accounts for 200 megawatts, while Starke Central, northeast of Knox, accounts for 210 megawatts.
During the presentation, representatives said the projects represent more than $600 million in capital investment and are expected to generate more than $1 million annually in tax revenue for the county.
The representatives shared that there had been 5 years of local engagement including open houses and over 15 public meetings before permitting for both projects was approved.
Preliminary work has begun on substations for both projects, including site preparation, landscaping, and erosion control measures. Representatives reported that North Bend has secured its electrical interconnection agreement, while Starke Central is expected to finalize its agreement in the first quarter of 2027.
Full construction on both projects is anticipated to begin in 2027, with the projects expected to enter service in 2028 and 2029.
Representatives also discussed fire protection measures, including specialized training previously provided to township fire departments and plans to give emergency responders access to the project sites. They said the projects include financial commitments toward local fire and emergency medical services.
The presentation also outlined plans for landscaping buffers and confirmed that neither project will include battery storage.
No action was requested of the Plan Commission during the presentation.
