LIMA — Lightsource bp is offering to pay homeowners whose properties border the proposed Birch Solar farm up to $50,000 per homeowner, a company representative told the Allen County commissioners Thursday.
Homeowners whose properties are within 500 feet of the project’s solar panels may receive one-time payments of $10,000, $20,000 or $50,000, with the largest payments going to homeowners whose properties are the most affected. The most affected homeowners would also be eligible to enroll in a home-value protection program, according to Chanel Montana, director of development for Lightsource bp.
Montana told the commissioners on Thursday that the company sent letters to the affected homeowners last week, while payments for those who enter into an agreement with Lightsource bp would be distributed once construction begins.
“This is a no-strings attached agreement,” Montana said. “This does not preclude (homeowners) from speaking about the contract or from going to OPSB or anything is. This really is our chance to show we want to be good members of this community.”
The company, which is now seeking approval for a scaled-back version of the project in terms of acreage, is expected to submit its application to the Ohio Power Siting board by the end of this week.
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