Kelso solar project expected to have big economic impact in Scott County

KELSO, Mo. (KFVS) — “There’s no question it’s a big facility.”

Kevin Smith, the CEO of Arevon Energy based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is talking about the 2,500-acre Kelso solar farm project in Scott County, Missouri.

The clean energy development company will turn about one percent of the county’s farmland into a solar farm by installing one million solar panels.

Smith said the project will bring millions of dollars to Scott County.

“It’s estimated about $34 million over the life of the project. At the groundbreaking, one of the government officials said that our facility would increase the total tax revenue in the county by 10 percent,” he said.

Also, more than $27 million will go toward Scott County school districts.

Smith told Heartland News that Arevon’s investment will power up thousands of homes and create hundreds of jobs.

“It’s enough power to power about 66,000 homes in southeast Missouri, just started construction,” Smith said. “At peak, we’ll have about 450 workers on site.”

We asked Smith why his company decided to invest in the southeast Missouri region.

“Well in reality, you know, when you look at the forecast on electricity demand, they’re increasing across the U.S. and solar over the last almost decade has costs come down to where solar is really the most cost-effective supply of electricity into the market right now,” he explained.

Smith said investing in this community will continue for years to come.

“We’re a long-term owner and operator, we’re going to be there for decades. So we want to make sure we’re a good neighbor as well,” he said.

Aside from tax revenue, Smith told Heartland News that Arevon will invest up to $3 million into the Scott County community.

The first phase of the project is expected to begin commercial operations by the end of 2025, and the second phase is estimated to start operations in the first quarter of next year.

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