ALMA, Ga. (WTOC) – As the Bacon County Commission considers a solar farm for the area, residents say they aren’t as sold on the idea.
At a packed town hall meeting on Nov. 10, citizens shared their oppositions.
“My concerns are the little farms of who this might impact,” said one attendee.
“There are people who will never again hunt on the land they have always hunted or farm the lands they have always farmed,” said another.
Those thoughts and feelings echoed at Tuesday’s Bacon County Commission meeting.
The fear of wetland removal, a corporation taking over parts of rural Georgia and a lack of transparency from the board of commissioners are all community concerns.
Tuesday night commissioners enacted a 90-day memorandum to better assess the needs and wants of the county. People like Roy T. Boatwright say they aren’t fully satisfied, but they are glad the county is pumping the breaks.
“It’s a start, but I don’t think that 90 days is gonna be long enough,” said Boatwright.
The project is being led by Silicon Ranch in partnership with Green Power EMC, which has developed several solar energy projects across Georgia.
According to the County, they have rejected parts of the project so far, and say the memorandum will help create understanding between the company and the county before the adopt ordinance that would regulate larger projects.
Even still citizens say they feel as if the hurry to push the project through is not what’s best for those who live here.
“I don’t think nothing is going to be good enough to protect us. We are the citizens and these big companies don’t care about us,” said Boatwright.
WTOC has been in contact with Silicon Ranch about the concerns from Bacon County residents.
The company says it will make a statement soon but has not released one as of yet.
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