Adair County considers new solar farm project with Azimuth Renewables

ADAIR COUNTY, Mo. — Adair County commissioners are in discussions with Azimuth Renewables about a potential new solar farm project.

During a meeting with David Bunge, president of Azimuth Renewables, commissioners addressed concerns and questions regarding green energy agreements and a potential road use agreement.

Presiding Commissioner Mark Shahan said, “We met with a solar farm developer today. They were asking us to enter a Chapter 100 with the company, and that is a payment in lieu of taxes.”

The project remains in the discovery phase, and no agreements have been finalized.

Shahan noted that the county is learning from its existing agreement with the Morris Solar Farm south of Kirksville and plans to incorporate additional terms into any future agreements with Azimuth.

“Before we do anything like that, we would discuss that with the community, but it is more about us doing our part to get as much revenue for the county as we can,” Shahan said.

Missouri’s recent legislation exempts companies from paying sales taxes on the construction of green energy and mining projects.

Shahan mentioned efforts by his office and other counties to reverse this legislation.

The proposed solar farm would be located along Pasture Lane, off Highway 6, southeast of Kirksville.

Shahan also noted that two other companies have shown interest in developing solar farms in Adair County, though no further details are available at this time.