P&Z addresses concerns at solar farm

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Moore County officials provided a detailed update on the county’s 200-megawatt solar farm during the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7, addressing resident concerns about smoke, stormwater management, and road conditions at the construction site.

Environmental consultant Tony Grow, hired by the county to oversee the project, reported that state regulators have found the work to be in compliance with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) rules. Grow said inspections occur three times a week, focusing on stormwater runoff, soil erosion, and air quality.

Grow noted that the solar farm includes 74 stormwater outfalls, all of which must be tested after rainfall, particularly because Hurricane Creek, which drains into Tims Ford Lake, is an Exceptional Tennessee Waterway requiring heightened protections.

“We’ve made plenty of phone calls and checked every box we can,” Commission Chairman Dexter Golden said. “They’re not stepping outside any legal bounds at the moment.”

Residents raised concerns about smoke from on-site brush burning, heavy traffic, and mud and gravel tracked onto county roads. Oak Hills Drive resident Michael Hamby described recent conditions: “Last week visibility and the air quality was ruined by the solar ranch. They had multiple large brush fires going at once, and the wind was in an unfavorable direction.

“I intend to go to meeting in a week or so with the county. … I think that’s y’all’s job and the mayor’s job to make sure they don’t mess this up.”

The Metro Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at the American Legion Building at 119 Booneville Hwy. in Lynchburg.

Officials said contractors have been instructed to slow down, enhance sediment fencing, and utilize a street sweeper to handle rock and gravel on roadways. County leaders also stressed that Silicon Ranch is contractually obligated to repair any damage to county roads caused by construction equipment.

The solar farm was approved by the Metro Council on Nov. 18, 2024. It is being built on 3,400 acres purchased from the Cumberland Springs Land Company, will utilize 1,800 acres for solar panels; approximately 480 acres have been cleared.

Silicon Ranch will build, own, and operate the facility, providing roughly 20 megawatts of power to Jack Daniel Distillery, covering about three-quarters of the distillery’s electricity needs through TVA’s Green Invest program.

During the meeting, Grow and the commissioners highlighted that the economic benefits to the county are limited beyond tax revenue and some construction spending. Currently, approximately 200 workers are on-site, most of whom are from out of state, with roughly 40 full-time maintenance jobs expected once the farm is operational.

County leaders emphasized that the project is under constant oversight, including weekly safety briefings, environmental inspections, and a decommissioning plan in case the site is abandoned.

“We take every call seriously,” Golden said. “We’re doing everything we can as a county to make sure the people coming in are doing right.”

The Metro Council approved the solar farm agreement with Nashville-based Silicon Ranch on Nov. 18, 2024, resolving a multi-year negotiation over permit fees and clearing the way for construction to continue.