The Starke County Highway Department has received a $1.2 million grant for road improvements as part of the state’s initial incentive package toward the massive Mammoth Solar project in northwest Indiana.
The grant will build on road repair payments Mammoth Solar has made to the county during construction of the solar farm.
Mammoth North, the first of a three-phase, $1.5 billion effort, began commercial operations last year. Together with the Mammoth South, Mammoth Central I and Mammoth Central II projects slated to be completed late next year, the entire development is expected to generate enough power to support about 275,000 homes annually.
The road funding was part of the Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s 2022 incentive package to Doral Renewables, the company behind what it says will be the largest solar energy project in the country.
“We’re proud to work closely with the IEDC to bring this funding home to Starke County,” Kevin Parzyck, senior vice president of development for Doral Renewables, said in a news release. “Our goal has always been to be more than a developer. We want to be a true partner. By improving local infrastructure, we’re helping create a safer and more efficient transportation system for residents and farmers and once again prove that promises that were made years ago are kept.”
The grant will be accessed incrementally, as eligible road improvement projects are undertaken, the company said.
“This grant is a huge win for our county. These funds will allow us to not only address wear and tear from heavy equipment and construction traffic but also make meaningful improvements that will serve residents for years to come,” Starke County Highway Superintendent Rachel Kinney said. “We’re grateful to Mammoth Solar and the IEDC for their commitment to supporting our infrastructure and our future.”
In May, Pennsylvania-based Doral Renewables LLC said it had closed on construction project financing for the final three phases of the Mammoth Solar project, which are in Pulaski County, Inside INdiana Business reported.