The City Council approved $23 million in taxpayer-backed incentives for a proposed $542 million liquefied natural gas export facility in North Jacksonville.
WJCT News partner the Jacksonville Daily Record reports the 18-0 Tuesday vote will allow Houston-based Eagle LNG Partners to move forward with development of the plant.
It was first announced in 2013, on 200 acres along Zoo Parkway at the St. Johns River.
Eagle LNG President and CEO Sean Lalani said in November the company is planning a groundbreaking in the first quarter of 2020.
Lalani said the facility is part of the company's expansion into markets in the Caribbean and Central America.
If signed by Mayor Lenny Curry, Ordinance 2019-844 will offer a $23 million Recaptured Enhanced Value Grant for the project. It will refund Eagle LNG 50% of the increase in the site’s property taxes the first 10 years the facility is in operation.
An expanded version of this story is at JaxDailyRecord.com.