The developer of a planned solar facility in Stockton said the project will move forward despite community pushback.
Reagan Farr, co-founder, president and CEO of Silicon Ranch, said he wants to clear up misinformation about the project and plans to participate in a public meeting in the near future.
The Nashville-based Silicon Ranch will invest $300 million to build the site and will sell power to Alabama Power.
"We're a pioneer in developing renewable energy projects, so we built the first large projects in Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky," Farr said. "So, very familiar with the efforts that it takes. A lot of the misconceptions and a lot of the questions are outstanding. And we have an incredible track record of communities. We've developed, own and operate over almost 200 projects in 18 states and Canada."
Why Stockton?
Of all places, Baldwin County residents are pushing back against a large solar facility in Stockton. Hundreds of residents recently showed up for a town hall on the matter. The Silicon Ranch team was not at the town hall, but Farr said he is ready to talk.
Farr said Stockton is a beneficial location because of the transmission capacity with a power line already running through the site.
"These utility companies are investing a lot and expanding the grid," said Farr. "So, we're taking advantage of built infrastructure to support the grid right there in Stockton."
While the 4,500-acre Stockton site has not been designed, Farr said the company would avoid building on the 800 acres of wetlands. Silicon Ranch will develop 2,000 acres for the solar array, leaving 2,500 acres for wetlands and buffers.
The property, which is currently a commercial timber track, will be cleared in areas where solar modules will be installed. The timber will remain in other areas.
People in Stockton strongly oppose the project, citing concerns that it will leave a large industrial footprint in a historic rural community, without public notice. They are also concerned about the potential environmental impact.
Farr said he is not surprised by the community's initial reaction. He said Silicon Ranch prefers to get ahead of announcements and communicate directly with the people. However, he said the Alabama Public Service Commission's filing made that impossible for the Stockton project.
While many projects have faced pushback, Farr said that after people learn more about them, they understand that a solar farm on a large property means no increased traffic and no added pressure on infrastructure.
"This is a meaningful $300 million capital investment, and we're going to pay tax on that, so contribute to investing in roads and infrastructure and schools," Farr said. "But we're not asking you to bring water and sewer to the site. We're not asking you to build additional schools or classrooms because we're bringing hundreds of new residences to the community. So, it is a very accretive asset to have in your community because we'll be one of the larger taxpayers and we don't ask for much in return."
Farr said he is committed to hearing concerns and addressing those with community members.
How it works
The modules Silicon Ranch installs are manufactured in Alabama. Farr said Lawrence County-based First Solar is one of the nation's few solar module manufacturers and among the largest in the world. First Solar makes thin-film solar cells that are placed between two pieces of glass. The sun shines on the semiconductor material, generating a current. Those currents then flow to collector points where the power is transformed into the voltage needed by Alabama Power.
"We're committed to domestic supply chain and are a leader in buying domestic equipment," Farr said. "In fact, over almost 95% of the equipment we buy is sourced from manufacturers right here in the U.S., and I'm actually very excited that we're going to be using Alabama-manufactured modules in an Alabama facility. So, like I said, this is great. I am unapologetic that this is an amazing asset and it will be a benefit to the community."
Alabama Power will use the energy to support a Meta data center near Montgomery, but Farr said his transaction with the power company ends with the delivery of power.
"So, whatever Alabama Power does or what their relationships are after that, that really doesn't involve us or this project per se," said Farr.
Farr claims that installing the solar facility in the community will benefit the community by strengthening the transmission grid.
"We're using more electricity and for a variety of reasons," he said. "We all have bigger homes, and we like running our air conditioner, and we have more electric devices. We have really tried to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., and manufacturers use a lot of power. And then all of us create a lot of digital content. So, they're having to build more data centers to hold our digital content, and data centers are big power users.
"So, we have not invested as a country in our 'interstate highway system for electrons' in our grid. We've underinvested in that for decades," he added.
Is it safe?
First Solar has conducted safety tests on its own product. Farr said studies done over a 20-year period also prove safety. However, fire risks and end-of-life handling of modules are cause for concern for many. Still, Farr said he feels comfortable calling the project safe.
"First Solar again, a company with a $1.2 billion manufacturing facility in Alabama, they both have all this product out in the field, but it's also been tested 100 different ways, and all of that test and data is available, and it's been done by First Solar," Farr explained. "They run tests on them and engineer them that way. So, it's a very mature technology from the standpoint of First Solar has consistently manufactured this product for two decades."
The expected lifespan of the solar modules used by Silicon Ranch is 40 years. The Department of Energy suggests considering "repowering" or upgrading panels before the end of their expected lifespan.
Farr maintains that some information being shared is incorrect. He said Silicon Ranch is an environmentally friendly company and has won awards for agri-voltaic initiatives. He said scientific studies are showing the company's regenerative land management principles have improved organic matter and soil quality on Silicon Ranch sites.
Farr also said the panels are not noisy and they do not create a dangerous electromagnetic field.
Baldwin County community members voiced concerns about how the solar panels would withstand hurricanes in the coastal region. Farr said the projects are engineered for Category 5 hurricanes and other coastal projects, such as those in South Carolina, were able to withstand Hurricane Helene with minimal damage. When weather threatens, the modules are put into storm mode, making them flat, so they do not catch wind.
Georgia lawsuit
Farr said a Georgia lawsuit against the company received media attention due to a large judgment against Silicon Ranch. However, he emphasized that the original $135 million judgment was thrown out, and a settlement was later reached. He said the company has ensured the Project Lumpkin site is fully vegetated and has learned lessons from the challenges there.
"We addressed the Stewart County situation head-on because we did learn lessons from that and we've implemented the lessons we've learned from that experience," Farr explained. "And we're a better company because of it. So, this project will benefit from the lessons that we learned from that Stewart County experience."
Sheep ranch
Silicon Ranch also raises lamb on its sites as part of the National Sheep Improvement Program.
"You're generating clean, renewable power while also using the land for agriculture and producing grass-fed meats and trying to bring the lamb industry back to the U.S.," Farr said. "We used to be a leader globally in lamb. In fact, we used to almost eat as much lamb as we do beef. But we basically outsourced that entire industry to Australia and New Zealand and we eat a whole lot less lamb than we used to. So, part of our company is focused on bringing lamb production back to the U.S. and we intend to use this site for that as well. It will be both an energy generation facility but also an active ranch with on-site ranch hands."
Ranchers are trained and live near the property to tend to their flock.
What to expect
Many community members are concerned about the initial installation process. Clearing land for the project could impact the wetlands with sediment and runoff. Farr said his team will be particularly careful in planning and that there is no documented incident of the panels leaking toxic chemicals into the ground.
The panels have a 40-year lifespan, but Farr said they can be removed easily and carefully, and parts are recycled as needed.
"This is a project, and we need power," he said. "This project is a positive in so many ways: environmentally, economically. We need it. Like I said, we have an underbuilt grid in the whole country. Alabama has an underbuilt grid, too. So, we need to put electrons on the grid everywhere that there's capacity."
Silicon Ranch has signed a contract with Alabama Power, and the PSC has approved the project. Farr said a community meeting is in the planning stages, and more information will be released on the company's website soon.
Meanwhile, a grassroots effort to stop the project continues. Community members are vowing to stick together to protect the land and ensure a safe future for their children and grandchildren.
"Here we are, a massive grassroots civilian group who is quickly organizing and putting their heads and resources and connections together to find a way to stop this unwanted project that giant corporations and some sneaky politicians cooked up," said community organizer Meagan Fowler during a massive town hall gathering. "They underestimated Stockton, and they underestimated Baldwin County."
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