Developers pull plans for Pocatello solar farm
Developers have pulled plans to build a 200-acre solar energy farm at the Pocatello Regional Airport.
The airport’s manager, David Allen, said the process was just taking too long. Because the process was taking so long, investors decided to move on.
The solar farm project started in 2012. But before any developments on an airport can be made, the Federal Aviation Administration requires an environmental assessment.
The assessment takes about a year to complete. The airport started its assessment in August 2015, but it was taking too long.
“We were hoping to be able to move that up faster because the solar farm lessee had a power purchase agreement that required that they start providing power by a certain deadline,” Allen said.
Without a completed assessment, no construction could begin. No construction meant no power. No power meant the solar company wouldn’t meet their deadline so investors withdrew.
“We’re disappointed because it was our one and only shot,” Allen said. “It would have been nice, it would have been great for revenue. We were expecting about an average of $100,000 per year for 35 years. That was good revenue for the airport.”
Allen said there’s a chance this project could be reinstated, but it’s an extremely slim one.
“We don’t expect to see another solar entity come in,” Allen said. “This solar entity though is not completely dead. They could possibly find some sort of a salvager that would try this. A high-risk, high-return type thing. But not likely.
Another potential project, code-named “Pipe,” was curtailed in July 2015. Developers said the project was five months behind scheduled because of FAA delays.
“We are continuing to push for the removal of roughly 900 acres of land from the airport property map and with it, FAA jurisdiction,” said Allen. “We’re committed to seeing that happen and by doing so developing Pocatello Regional Airport and Business Park into a hub that fuels commerce throughout the region.”
Allen said even though he’s disappointed the solar farm fell through, he’s excited to get to work on some of these other projects.
