Fisher County approves amendment keeping 240 MW battery project, deferring PV for Innovative Solar 245 LLC

Dave Graham, CEO of GGS Energy, told Fisher County officials they are "on schedule to build this project," saying the developer expects to close project financing by the end of July, issue notices to proceed in August and complete construction around August 2027.

Graham described the scope as a 240-megawatt battery storage facility with a new substation to step up voltage for a 345 kV transmission line. He said the public-utility switchyard that will accept the tie-in is already under construction and is expected to be energized in May; GGS Energy provided credit support to enable the utility to build the switchyard, Graham said.

The developer told the court that the original plan combined solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage but that declines in PV market prices and offtake terms prompted the company to defer the solar portion and proceed with the battery now. "We decided to hold on that part of the project," Graham said, adding the total project cost is about $270 million and the first-year taxable basis is about $170 million.

During discussion, a county official asked whether the project is battery-only and about land needs. County participants were told the battery and substations will occupy roughly 23 acres and the switchyard sits on about 25 acres; Graham confirmed battery work would start in August next year and that the developer would coordinate the grid connection with the switchyard energization.

Officials also discussed logistics of the tax-agreement amendment and a penalty payment tied to the change. One participant said the county would receive a penalty payment identified verbally as "around $125,000." The transcript records participants noting that an amendment deadline had passed and that signature copies were needed; the amendment's current date in discussion was shown as July 12.

The court moved to approve the amendment to the tax abatement agreement between Innovative Solar 245 LLC and Fisher County and to authorize the county judge to execute the amendments on the county's behalf. A motion was made and seconded and the court approved the action by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally or individual votes.

The order approved the amendment that removes the photovoltaic component for now while preserving the battery-storage portion of the project. The court did not specify additional conditions in the recorded motion. The developer indicated it expects to issue notices to proceed shortly after financing closes and to complete the project by about August 2027.