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The Demopolis City Council approved a tax abatement for Stellar Renewable Power, LLC at its Feb. 15 meeting. Stellar Renewable Power plans to begin a solar power project on CR 1 within the city’s police jurisdiction.

Stellar first appeared before the Council in 2023 to ask for permission to bring the project to Demopolis. The proposed 175 megawatt solar project will include an estimated $200 million investment in Marengo County and estimated $50 million in Hale County. Ben Bondurant, Senior Manager of Development for Stellar, said that once the project is operational, it would generate $5 million or more in new taxes to the school systems over a 20-year period.

Stellar asked for an abatement on sales and use taxes, and police jurisdiction taxes, which totals at about $850,000. At the Feb. 1 meeting, Bondurant said “the power generated by the solar plant will be sold to entities like Alabama Power to help with the state’s need for electricity.”

The solar plant will be located on a 1,060-acre site known as the Broussard property. The property is located on the northernmost and easternmost tip of Marengo County. The project will create around 150-200 new jobs during the construction phase, and create three to five jobs once the plant is operational.

The Council unanimously approved the resolution for the solar power project. Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2025.

A public hearing was also held during the meeting concerning the rezoning of two locations. The first was 112 US Highway 80 East from M-Medical to B-3 Community Business, and the second was 1204 Southmont Drive from M-Medical to R-2 Single Family. The Council approved ordinances 2024-01 and 2024-02 for the rezoning.

Other items discussed or approved by the Council:

• The Council approved a Public Assembly application for the Marengo County Historical Society to hold its annual Rooster Day Celebration on April 13.

The Demopolis City Council meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 5:15 p.m. The work session begins at 4:45 p.m. The public is invited to attend.