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Updated: May 13, 2026 @ 1:30 am
Pictured is Tanner Scott, of Silicon Ranch, speaking during the community dinner at the Fayette Civic Center.
Pictured is Tanner Scott, of Silicon Ranch, speaking during the community dinner at the Fayette Civic Center.
By: JACKSON KIMBRELL
Silicon Ranch, a renewable energy company based in Nashville, Tennessee, held a community dinner at the Fayette Civic Center on Monday night to discuss a future solar project in Fayette.
The project, with an estimated value at $10 million, will be located on privately-owned land within the city limits of Fayette. Tanner Scott, Senior Associate of Community Relations at Silicon Ranch, said that the project is aimed at creating local tax revenue, supporting local students through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) opportunities and creating an impact fund to support philanthropic initiatives, determined by local stakeholders.
Silicon Ranch commits to using American made materials, with a priority on Alabama and regional sourcing of equipment for the project. As an example, the solar panels used for the farm will come from “First Solar,” a company with a manufacturer location in North Alabama.
Silicon Ranch distinguishes itself from other solar companies by owning, developing and operating the project for its entire lifecycle. The company is a leader in the industry, and utilizes its “Regenerative Energy” program, which is the process of using livestock, often sheep, to graze under the panels, improve soil health and support local agriculture.
Aaron Fagley, project developer for Silicon Ranch, presented a map to show the location for the project. The solar farm will be located on private property at the end of Tenth Street NE, or behind the old “Fayette Square.”
Fagley added that the “SR Sipsey Project” will be 134 acres, 8.4 MW (megawatts) and will be able to power roughly 1,300 homes in the area. The project is expected to be finished by the end of 2027.
During the time reserved for questions from the audience, it was asked who the buyer of the energy will be and Fagley responded with that Alabama Power will be buying the energy produced from this project. He also added that Silicon Ranch has worked with Alabama Power from the beginning phases of this project to ensure that the location of the farm was qualified to generate energy and that energy could be used by Alabama Power.
Scott added that Silicon Ranch does not have a direct input on the cost of power, the project will produce energy that will be sold to the Alabama Power company and the cost for the customers will still be determined by Alabama Power. However, Scott noted that solar is the cheapest form of power and can provide more stability for rates within the buying company.
When asked about the tax revenue off of the project, Fayette County Probate Judge Mike Freeman stated that the location of the project currently pays $350 a year in taxes; with the project, this location will be paying $82,000 a year in taxes. Freeman also stated that the project will not qualify for any abatements from taxes.
A question arose from the crowd about adding on to this farm in the future, and the project manager responded with “the company has no intentions of expanding or a second phase.” Fagley said that with the airport to the North, the Sipsey River and wet areas to the East and town to the Southwest, there is not much room for this project to expand.
Silicon Ranch expects to purchase the land no later than December, begin construction shortly after that, which is expected to last between six to eight months and have the project finished by the end of next year.
Scott ended the meeting by ensuring the crowd that Silicon Ranch was dedicated to being a community partner and would be open to any questions or concerns from the public.
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