Commission adopts resolution to align Trident Solar tax abatement with construction timeline

Broadwater County commissioners on Dec. 13 adopted a resolution conditionally approving Trident Solar LLC's application for a New and Expanding Industry (NEI) property tax abatement, with the abatement scheduled to begin in tax year 2027 to align with the project's construction and interconnection timeline.

Adam Schumacher, president of Gallatin Power, and Kirsten (Kirsten/Kirsten spelled in transcript) Elias, the company's chief development officer, told commissioners the project recently signed a 20‑year power purchase agreement with Northwestern Energy. Schumacher said interconnection upgrade work required by Northwestern is expected to take roughly three years, shifting a likely commercial operation date to late 2026 or early 2027 and prompting the requested adjustment to the abatement start year.

Kirsten Elias provided county estimates for the abatement's revenue impact: approximately $13 million to the county during the first 10 years covered by the abatement and roughly $43 million to the county over the project's full 35‑year life, figures the presenters said are estimates tied to the NEI program assumptions.

Schumacher and Elias also described technology improvements they expect to use: a shift in battery chemistry to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) to reduce thermal‑runaway fire risk for the project's large battery component, and modest efficiency gains in solar panels that could reduce land footprint. Schumacher said the developer previously took a lower PPA price to reach agreement with Northwestern and that the project aims to lower rates for Northwestern ratepayers in aggregate.

A commissioner moved to adopt the resolution approving Trident Solar's NEI application conditioned on a mutually agreeable county roads improvement agreement; the motion passed by voice vote. The resolution notes that, if approved by the Department of Revenue, the abatement would start at 25% in tax year 2027.

The resolution will be signed and the county will continue to coordinate required agreements and Department of Revenue approvals as the project advances toward construction.