LITTLE RIVER, Ark. (KSLA) – People in Little River County fighting against the construction of a solar farm filled a county courtroom Thursday, October 2.
The group was seeking an injunction preventing Little River County Judge Larry Cowling from entering in an agreement with Nextera Energy Company to construct the facility.
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Earlier this year, the Little River County Quorum Court voted not to proceed in providing a tax abatement to Nextera to build the farm, however, Cowling vetoed that decision.
“I represent over 13,000 folks in Little River County. And that’s my job to represent the 13,000, and I have to take that in consideration for anybody, so it’s not just for one person but all of them,” Cowling said.
The judge found himself on the other side of the bench as he defended his action.
Visiting judge Kathleen Bell denied the injunction.
“We obviously would like to have had the injunction. We are happy to know the case will move forward. Our suspicions of the irreparable harm part is probably hard for her to gather with bonds under litigation. Really, it’s hard to sell those bonds anyway. I think the idea is to get the court to have a case before we get the injunction,” Tracy Jones said.
Jones is with the concerned citizens in opposition to the solar farm. Jones said they were hoping to bring this issue to the voters, but the visiting judge said not at this time.
“I think from the very beginning of this process there has been an attempt to strip the people of their voice, and we have had a continuation of that today, but it was not unexpected,” Jones said.
This issue is not dead as the visiting judge said today’s rulings opens the way for a future trial. At this time, no date has been set for that trial.
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