Open Road Renewables’ (ORR) property tax revenue estimates for the Frasier Solar project were made publicly available on January 8, 2024. The Buckeye Institute cannot vouch for ORR’s data, but is nonetheless providing an analysis using the ORR data in order to show an apples-to-apples comparison.

After re-running The Buckeye Institute’s proprietary economic model using ORR data, Buckeye’s original conclusion stands: the PILOT program remains as not being a clear winner for Knox County or its taxpayers.

In Scenario 1, the PILOT passes only if ORR’s speculated needs-based funding reduction materializes as advertised. Should the Ohio General Assembly change the needs-based funding formula during the solar project’s life (which is highly likely to happen according to the analysis produced by Dr. Howard B. Fleeter for ORR), and Knox County school’s state funding is never reduced, then the PILOT program will shortchange Knox County $3,306,473 by 2063.

The PILOT fails to pass in every other scenario.

Rea S. Hederman Jr. is executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute. Trevor W. Lewis is an economic research analyst at The Buckeye Institute.