Amid a federal investigation, the City Council postponed voting on legislation that would approve a Recapture Enhanced Value Grant of up to $2.3 million to solar panel manufacturer JinkoSolar at Cecil Commerce Center in West Jacksonville.
Council President Terrance Freeman said at the May 9 meeting the legislation will be postponed until June 13 at the request of the mayor’s administration, but did not explain why.
The postponement comes after federal agents and the Department of Homeland Security on May 8 executed a search warrant at the China-based company’s Jacksonville solar panel plant.
In an email to his fellow Council members, Matt Carlucci wrote: “We cannot, in good conscience and in light of an active federal investigation, move forward. Until investigations are complete.
“I believe we — as elected leaders and gatekeepers of this city — should press pause on any further legislative, permitting, and/or funding actions. It is my hope that a positive outcome will prevail, and our city may continue to grow and diversify.”
The legislation, Resolution 2023-0276, was introduced April 25 and was on the agenda at the May 9 Council meeting for public comment and final action.
The Mayor’s Budget Review Committee voted 7-0 on April 10 to introduce legislation to the Council for incentives to support JinkoSolar’s proposal to invest more than $52 million in its AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center plant and create 250 jobs.
The $2.3 million grant represents 50% of the county taxes due on the increased assessed value of the plant for a period of 10 years.
According to the legislation, JinkoSolar is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of solar panels with more than two dozen facilities around the world.
The company opened its manufacturing plant in 2018 at Cecil Commerce Center in West Jacksonville where it currently employs 274 workers. The company is proposing to expand its facility at a cost of $52 million and create an additional 250 full-time jobs.
A city project summary and legislative fact sheet say JinkoSolar has 274 employees at its plant at 4660 POW MIA Memorial Parkway, Suite 200.
It is owned by a company in Shanghai, China, and the Jacksonville location was the company’s first plant to open in the U.S.