Grow: solar farm not in compliance; county’s hands tied

7:12 p.m. Feb. 3, 2026 • Updated: 10:44 p.m. Feb. 3, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

The solar farm being built in Moore County by Silicon Ranch is out of compliance with its stormwater permit, environmentalist Tony Grow told the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 3, despite construction moving ahead faster than expected.

Grow said grading work on the site is nearing completion, and solar panels are expected to be installed soon, but required erosion controls and stormwater monitoring have not been adequately addressed.

“They’re working hard, but they’re not working hard enough,” Grow told board members. He said weekly inspections continue to uncover the same problems, and while some corrections are being made, they are not being completed quickly or thoroughly enough to bring the site into compliance.

According to Grow, the project disturbs more than 50 acres, which triggers stricter monitoring requirements under the construction general permit. Those rules require the developer to sample and document stormwater runoff after every half-inch of rainfall at each discharge point across the site.

“There are 42 outfalls across the site,” Grow said. “Every one of those has to be monitored after each rain event. That’s what we’re requesting right now.”

Hurricane Creek is Top of Mind

Grow said there have been 11 qualifying rain events since early September, when the project exceeded the 50-acre disturbance threshold, but the required monitoring documentation has not yet been fully provided.

He said erosion and sediment discharges have reached nearby creeks multiple times, requiring cleanup efforts. Of particular concern is Hurricane Creek, designated an Exceptional Tennessee Water due to its ecological sensitivity.

“That’s the side we’re most concerned with,” Grow said. “It’s a very delicate creek system, and we have to pay close attention to it.”

Grow said if compliance issues continue, the next steps could include a formal site assessment and enforcement action by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Those actions could escalate from notices of violation to monetary fines or a stop-work order.

“If it gets to that point, all work has to stop except work to fix the erosion problems,” Grow said. “No additional construction can move forward until those issues are addressed.”

Asked how long the project has been out of compliance, Grow estimated about one month.

Moore County Lacks Ordinances

Commission members also discussed the county’s limited enforcement authority. Grow noted that many cities and counties enforce stormwater ordinances with daily fines and penalties, which can compel faster compliance, but Moore County currently lacks similar tools.

“This situation highlights the need for a stronger stormwater ordinance,” Grow said. “It wouldn’t affect this project retroactively, but it would protect the county on future large-footprint developments.”

Questions were also raised about the local benefits of the solar farm. Grow said the site will be fed into the regional grid through the Tennessee Valley Authority, rather than serving Moore County exclusively.

Concerns were also voiced about mud and gravel being tracked onto nearby roads by construction traffic. Highway Department Superintendent Shannon Cauble said temporary measures, including rumble strips, have failed to produce meaningful improvement.

Grow said his next step will be to formally request a full site assessment, which he expects could take place within the next two weeks.

Planning and Zoning Chairman Dexter Golden said representatives from Silicon Ranch and its contractors were unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting but plan to address the Metro Council at its Feb. 16 meeting.

Grow urged residents to report any suspected runoff or water quality issues. “If you see anything that looks off in the creeks or streams, I need to know about it,” he said. “We investigate every time.”

If residents have a concern or complaint, please email Grow so each complaint can be documented: Click to email.

The Planning and Zoning Commission said it will continue discussions with county leadership on potential ordinance updates and next steps for the project.

• Updated to include Tony Grow’s email address.