Delaware City refinery donates land to NCCo

PBF Energy, the company that bought the shuttered Delaware City refinery two years ago, has donated 19 acres of land to New Castle County.

Located on the northwest corner of Wrangle Hill Road and Bear Corbitt Road, the county says the land was part of a give and take brokered in 2011 between PBF and the county. In exchange for a five-year property tax exemption and tax-exempt bond financing, PBF agreed to donate the 19 unused acres, which is zoned for commercial regional use.

Following the formal transfer of the land, County Executive Paul Clark says he and his administration will work with council to decide the best use for the parcel. Clark would like to lease the acreage as a solar farm.

“We believe that is the best use – as a clean-energy source. A solar farm would lower the county’s energy costs and its carbon footprint while not adding any burden to local roads or other infrastructure. But we are willing to entertain other ideas from Council and the private sector,” he said.

The parcel is worth an estimated $546,000, according to Karl Kalbacher, the county’s Director of Economic Development. He estimates the parcel is capable of generating four megawatts of solar energy, which would make it the largest solar project in New Castle County.

New Castle County has committed to reduce its energy use by 20 percent by 2020.