Community Benefits

St. James Solar Energy Center is proud to deliver significant monetary benefits to St. James Parish. After working within the community for several years, the project team listened to stakeholders and committed to full unabated property taxation. The project has also committed to additional community benefits for initiatives and programs that were identified through conversations with the public.

  • Over $154 million in taxes, fees, and donations over the project’s 35-year life
    • Over $66 million in taxes, fees, and donations over the project’s first 10 years
  • $13.1 million in sales tax over the 2-year construction period
  • $56.7 million in construction payroll
  • Creation of ~400 construction jobs in addition to a 1-month local hiring window for St. James residents
  • $4.67 million Community Benefit Agreement, to be paid within 100 days from the start of construction. This agreement includes the following donations:
Multi-Purpose Complex$1,500,000
Recreation District 5$1,500,000
General Fund$1,500,000
St. James Parish$1,500,000
Recreation$770,000
Gramercy Recreation District$110,000
Recreation District 2$110,000
Recreation District 3$110,000
Recreation District 4$110,000
Recreation District 5$110,000
Recreation District 6$110,000
Recreation District 7$110,000
School Board$300,000
St. James Parish School Board$300,000
Individual Schools$250,000
Cypress Grove Montessori School$25,000
Gramercy Elementary$25,000
Lutcher High School$25,000
Magnolia Academic Center of Excellence$25,000
Paulina Elementary$25,000
Sixth Ward Elementary$25,000
St. James High School$25,000
St. James Parish College and Career Center$25,000
St. Louis Academy$25,000
Vacherie Elementary$25,000
Local Organization$150,000
Salute 1st$150,000
Job Retraining$150,000
St. James Parish School District$150,000
Fire Department$25,000
Fire Department$25,000
Sheriff's Office$25,000
Sheriff's Office$25,000
1-Month Job Preference Period$—
St. James Parish$—
Grand Total$4,670,000

Good Neighbors: We are committed to continued community and stakeholder engagement during the construction and operation of the solar sites. Please reach out to us with any questions or comments.

In addition, our site plan includes the following to specifically address community questions about potential visual impacts of the projects:

  • A 40% reduction in project footprint from the originally proposed project
  • Large setbacks from public roads and residential areas in accordance with the established ordinance
  • Visual screening along adjacent residences and roadways

Image 100 feet from existing solar project

Without Vegetation Screening

With Vegetation Screening

Image 1000 feet from existing solar project

Without Vegetation Screening

With Vegetation Screening

St. James Energy Center contains several hundred megawatts of solar energy generation capacity in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The solar sites are expected to deliver enough affordable, renewable energy to power tens of thousands of Louisiana homes.