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Port of Inola

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Port of Inola Project Plan - click here for more info

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New Solar Plant Coming To Inola

2023

Italian solar panel maker Enel Group has chosen Inola, Okla., to locate its first U.S.-based plant. The intention to build the $1-billion plant, announced last November, is considered a sign that federal and state economic incentives are enticing foreign companies to invest in the American renewable energy market.

Construction is expected to start this fall on the 2 million-sq-ft facility. Production and sale of the photovoltaic panels is anticipated by the end of next year. The facility is expected to reach 3 GW annual capacity in 2025, with possible expansion to 6 GW.

Enel North America's affiliate 3Sun USA said it chose the Inola site because of easy access to barge and rail transportation. Inola is home to the Port of Tulsa.

Andrew Ralston, Tulsa Ports economic development director, told ENR that a general contractor and design firm will be named soon.

The U.S. is seeing an uptick in renewable energy harnessing and manufacturing, mainly due to the federal Inflation Reduction Act funding and incentive package enacted last year and to state efforts. Less than five large-scale solar panel production plants operate in the U.S., but annual domestic solar photovoltaic installations are forecasted to jump from 16 GW last year to 41 GW by the end of next year, a report by Wood MacKenzie found. 

For Enel, the Inola federal and state financial incentives sealed the deal. 

"Recent policy tailwinds from the Inflation Reduction Act have served as a catalyst for our solar manufacturing ambitions in the U.S., ushering in a new era of made-in-America energy,” Enrico Viale, head of Enel North America said in announcing the plant.   

Giovanni Bertolino, head of 3Sun USA, said Oklahoma investment incentives were a deciding factor to build there, citing a $180-million funding package. In exchange, the company must create 1,400 jobs, according to published reports. 

Bertolino cited the Perform Act, a rebate bill to attract major companies to the state. In its state deal, Enel can recover 10% of its capital outlay and payroll cost with its $1-billion investment. The state offered $180 million in incentives, if Enel invests $1.8 billion over the next decade.  

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Half Million Dollar Lift Station Project

March 30, 2023

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 Andrew Banta, P.E. Supervisory Civil Engineer Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service Okmulgee Service Area Muscogee (Creek) Nation said,  "the town of Inola is one of the areas that is being considered for over a half million dollars in assistance for the Green Valley Lift Station wastewater Project in the Town of Inola".

Banta said,  "when finalized, the funding will be available this year for the project".

When asked about the much needed funding Inola board of Trustee Billy Wilson said, that "Mayor Larry Grigg and he had been pursuing this additional funding for over a year". Wilson said, "this is exciting news and that these additional funds will go toward a much-needed project."

Mayor Larry Grigg said, "that these types of grants come about when you use a multi-level strategy when applying for grants." Mayor Grigg further stated, "this is great for the town and the Community." Mayor Grigg continued, "And the current Board of Trustees has worked well together in accomplishing these types of goals."

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New Multi Million Dollar Sewer Improvements For Inola

April 3, 2023 from News Channel 6

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A multi-million dollar project is in the works to improve Inola's sewer system.

Some of the infrastructure dates back to the 1960s and city leaders say the upgrades are needed because of strains on the current system. Mayor Larry Grigg says at the sewer plant they run about 250,000 gallons of water a day, but during heavy rain it can run up to several million gallons.

As a part of ongoing projects, the city plans to upgrade sewer lines in the middle of town in a half-mile radius and replace the clay tile pipes. Inola is also building new lines and pumps to transfer sewage, which will be sent to the Port of Inola in a few years. Inola recently received $10 million from ARPA to fund the project. Cherokee and Muscogee Nations also awarded Inola with $500,000 in grant money. Long term the city estimates they'll need to get an additional 8 million dollars to complete the entire project.

"We're going to be applying for grants hopefully we survive on sales tax we but also we could with new plants going in out there start drawing some ad valorem tax," said Grigg.

The city plans to start replacing lines in about a year.

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