9:08 a.m. Feb. 6, 2026
District 3 council member Dexter Golden, who also chairs the Planning and Zoning Commission, attended Tuesday night’s meeting as a citizen, but spoke up to share insight on the county’s negotiation of the Silicon Ranch solar farm agreement.
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
At Tuesday night’s Moore County Concerned Citizens Focus Group meeting, people asked how the Silicon Ranch solar project was approved and what real benefits it has brought to nearby residents.
One resident said they tried several times to find out what the county gained from the project but got no answers. They argued that neighbors now deal with worse roads, mud, and daily problems from living next to the large solar installation.
Dexter Golden, District 3 Metro Council member and chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, said the county got revenue from permits and related fees. He explained that the project was approved mostly because of legal limits on what the county could control when the land was bought.
In November 2024, the county and Silicon Ranch agreed on $100,000 in permit fees and a $650,000 Community Benefit Fee.
The county highway department also has a separate agreement with Silicon Ranch. The company must fix any county roads it damages during construction, and pay for the repairs itself.
Golden explained that when the solar company bought the property, Moore County had few zoning rules for these kinds of projects. Because of this, the county had little power to stop the development or add extra costs beyond normal permit fees.
“We have no right to tell them they can’t buy it,” he said. He explained that property rights and state rules limited what the county could do. He said they tried to negotiate fees and protections, but big one-time charges not tied to permits would not have held up legally.
Golden said the land was not rezoned for industrial use. Instead, the project went forward under a special exception in agricultural zoning. This was done to avoid permanently changing thousands of acres to industrial land.
He also explained that money from permits for the solar project is used to pay for environmental oversight, not general county expenses. Local taxpayers do not pay for the project’s environmental inspector, Tony Grow. His job is funded by part of the permit fees over the course of construction and operation.
Instead of hiring new full-time government workers, Golden described a system that uses as-needed inspections paid for by permit fees.
“If we look at an inspector,” he said, “we don’t want to add anyone with a full-time office or salary. We want to do what we did with [Grow]. When you buy a building permit, part of that fee goes to pay for the inspector.”
Golden said this setup with Grow allows for environmental oversight, especially for creeks and waterways, without adding permanent salary costs to the county budget.
Golden also said the county has a lot of inspection needs because of growth and development, but wants to avoid hiring more full-time staff. He stressed that Grow’s job is only about ecological compliance.
“Tony has nothing to do with the roads, the entrance and exit,” Golden said. “I wish he could. Tony is strictly there for our environmental protection.”
Golden acknowledged that neighbors are still frustrated, but said earlier decisions were made based on the laws and information available then. While the project cannot be undone, officials said residents can still raise concerns with state agencies or by working together.
Regina Adcock, a founding member of the focus group, urged people to work with county officials instead of blaming them. She encouraged residents to stay involved and keep asking for oversight when possible.
“There is no us and them, it’s us, together,” she said. “Y’all have heard the saying, ‘The squeaky wheel gets heard,’” she added, and suggested calling state officials with concerns.
• Concerned Citizens group highlights financial trends
Privacy Policy • Terms & Conditions • Cookie Policy
© 2026 Moore County Observer

source