Millville Officials Approve 50-MW Nabb Solar I Project

Construction to begin late this year on project estimated to generate $260,000 per year in taxes for city, public schools, county

MILLVILLE, NJ (January 19, 2021) – The Millville Planning Board unanimously approved a 50- megawatt solar energy generation farm during its monthly meeting on January 12, clearing the way for construction to begin on the project by the end of 2021. The project, called Nabb Solar I, located along Nabb Avenue in western Millville, is being developed by Dakota Power Partners (dba Dakota Renewable Energy), and is anticipated to begin operation in the fall of 2022.

Over the 30-year expected life of the project, Nabb Solar I is estimated to generate a total of approximately $7.8 million in taxes. Dakota will pay estimated annual real estate taxes of approximately $102,295 to the city of Millville, $67,547 to Millville Public Schools, and $98,166 to Cumberland County, for a total of $268,008 in local taxes per year. That’s nearly 12 times the

$22,443 currently generated by the combined 375 acres, since the land is taxed under the NJ Farmland Assessment program.

Nabb Solar I is one of a half-dozen similar projects being proposed in New Jersey by Dakota Power Partners, which has offices in Millville and Denver, CO. In total, Dakota is proposing a $1 billion utility-scale solar investment in New Jersey. Utilizing a portfolio of low-cost, utility-scale solar and solar + battery storage projects across the Garden State, the company intends to achieve generating capacity totaling more than 1,000 megawatts – enough energy to power 175,000 households, which equals the total number of households in Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester counties combined.

“Mayor Mike Santiago and the other Millville City Commissioners were quick to see the value of this project,” said Timothy Daniels, Dakota Principal and Co-Founder. “I also want to recognize the Cumberland County Commissioners, led by Joe Derella, who were equally supportive of this project, along with two others we have proposed for Cumberland County. These county commissioners recognize that these projects will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in direct investment and generate tens of millions more in property taxes for local communities, with little-to-no burden on City and County services, unlike so many alternative commercial and residential types of development. We thank them for their foresight, cooperation and enthusiasm for what Nabb Solar I represents.”

“We are witnessing the turning of the tide in the battle against the climate crisis,” said Joe Derella, Director of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. “With a massive $70 million investment in our region, the Nabb Solar project is creating hundreds of well-paying construction jobs and injecting our economy with a projected $7.8 million in much-needed long-term tax revenue, enabling Cumberland County and the City of Millville to provide the services that improve the quality of life for every citizen.”

“This is what the future of energy looks like in New Jersey,” said Millville Mayor Mike Santiago. “The City of Millville is thrilled to be co-creating that future with Dakota Power Partners because solar is the perfect neighbor for our community; it makes no noise and creates no burden for City and County services. At the same time, the Nabb Solar project will generate a projected

$103,000 per year for the City of Millville and $67,000 each year to support our local schools, giving our children new opportunities to learn and grow. The future looks bright for the City of Millville!”

"Utility-scale solar energy is good for the environment, good for New Jersey and good for labor,” said IBEW Local 351 Business Manager Dan Cosner, who is also President of the Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council. “The IBEW applauds the City of Millville for embracing this project. We hope the State of New Jersey enthusiastically supports utility-scale solar projects in our state. These projects will help New Jersey meet the renewable energy goals set-forth in the Governor's Energy Master Plan in a cost-effective manner while giving working families an opportunity to help build an energy-independent future for our state."

Solar farms such as Nabb Solar I, and the other similar projects Dakota has proposed in Cumberland County, have virtually no impact on the environment - the solar farms utility no fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. And, unlike traditional power plants, solar farms consume no water and generate no wastewater, which means healthier rivers, lakes, and aquafers. Dakota Power Partners will plant native, pollinator-friendly grasses as groundcover to protect against erosion and to increase biodiversity at the sites. At the end of the equipment’s projected 30-year lifespan, it will be removed, and the property will be restored to its pre-construction condition.

About Dakota Power Partners:

Led by energy industry veterans, Dakota Power Partners works closely with local communities, landowners, commercial and industrial customers, and utilities to develop large-scale, clean- energy projects. Our projects produce low-cost clean energy, benefit host communities, and create 21st-Century American jobs. The Dakota Power Partners team has more than 65 years of combined experience in the nation’s power generation industry and has participated in the development of more than 3,150 megawatts of operating and in-construction wind and solar projects around the U.S., representing an aggregate capital investment in rural communities in excess of $3.8 billion. For more information about Dakota Power Partners, visit dakotapp.com.