Apple going solar in Prineville

The mayor of Prineville says Apple is planning to build a solar array at its data center in Central Oregon.

Earlier this week, both Prineville and Crook County amended existing enterprise zone agreements to incorporate additional land.

Mayor Betty Roppe says those agreements were with Apple. She says the company’s enterprise zone agreement defers taxes on improvements to the land for a period of 15 years.

“My understanding is that they will create the solar farm, and then they will sell that back to the companies that they actually get their electricity from,” said Roppe.

Roppe says a confidentiality agreement with the company prevents her from disclosing the specific terms of the deal.

Economic Development for Central Oregon won’t confirm a deal with Apple. In general, it requires businesses in that particular long-term rural enterprise zone to hire a minimum number of 35 full-time employees at wages that are at least 1 1/2 times the county average.

Apple did not return calls seeking comment.