Scott County in southeastern Missouri faces the same challenges of many of the state’s rural areas — declining populations and labor forces, higher premature death rates, challenges for EMS services and closed hospitals.
But county commissioners made a major shift when they approved the Kelso Solar project, a 430MW farm that will generate $62 million in taxes over 30-year life of the project. The project increased Missouri’s solar generating capacity by 50 percent.
The first phase of the Kelso solar farm opened at the end of the 2025, and the second phase opened last March. While it will take a few months for the new taxes to appear in the county’s books, it is already reaping the benefits.
County officials estimate the project will generate $27 million for local schools. That may help build or renovate facilities in a county district where 75 percent of the buildings were constructed at least 25 years ago, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Arevon, the company developing the solar project, has also donated a vehicle to the Scott County Rural Fire Protection District, supported safety upgrades and agricultural education programs for county schools, partnered with a local food bank to help area families, provided equipment for the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center and paid for a water well in Blodgett.
The county has opened a new courthouse, which will enable judges to come and go from their chambers without having to mix with criminal defendants.
Ray Locker is the executive director for Checks & Balances Project, an investigative watchdog blog holding government officials, lobbyists, and corporate management accountable to the public. Funding for C&BP is provided by Renew American Prosperity and individual donors.
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