Louisiana Illuminator
The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources held its first public hearing Tuesday to design new regulations governing the solar energy industry and the leasing of private land for solar farms — tracts of land filled with solar panels for electricity production.
Tuesday’s hearing, the first of several hearings anticipated, was the result of recently-passed legislation crafted by Sen. Bret Allain (R-Franklin) in an effort to put some regulations in place to catch up with the rapidly-expanding solar industry in Louisiana.
On Monday the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry had approved a tax incentive package for a proposed $98 million solar farm on 1,000 acres of leased land in Morehouse Parish. The company, Bayou Galion Solar, is seeking an 80% property tax exemption — worth more than $1.1 million the first year — for 10 years via Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program. In exchange, the company predicts it will create three new contract jobs and 150 construction jobs.