Washington’s City Council, during its meeting Monday, will consider moving forward with a proposal to build a solar farm at Warren Field Airport.

City staff has been working with Duke Energy Renewables on bringing the solar farm to the city-owned airport. The proposed project has been discussed by the Airport Advisory Board, which supports the proposal. The board believes the revenue generated for the city by the solar farm will help offset some airport-related expenditures, according to a memorandum from Allen Lewis, the city’s public-works director, to the mayor and council members.

If the council approves the project, the city would lease airport land to Washington Airport Solar LLC for up to 15 years (an initial five-year term with options for two additional five-year terms), with rent at $1,200 per acre per year. The ground lease (which the council must approve) is for 34.3 acres. The 34.3 acres are south of the intersection of runways 5-23 and 17-35.

The council also must sign off on a ground easement agreement, solar skyway easement and an indemnity agreement between the city and Washington Airport Solar.

Apparently, the proposed project as been scaled back.

Last year, the City Council adopted a resolution of intent to lease 75 acres of airport property for $22,689 a year for up to 15 years, based on an initial five-year lease with two extensions of five years each.

“Should this economic-development project become a reality, it would be upward of a $50-million investment at the airport and could create up to 35 to 40 new jobs in the future. So, I’m excited about it,” former City Manager Josh Kay said last year.
Last year, Mayor Archie Jennings said he believes the city’s involvement with the project could “be the turning point for the airport,” which is not a moneymaker for the city.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St. To view the council’s agenda for a specific meeting, visit the city’s web­site at www.washingtonnc.gov, click “Government” then “City Council” heading, then click “Meeting Agendas” on the menu to the right. Then click on the date for the appropriate agenda.