MOSS BLUFF, La. (KPLC) – A proposed solar farm spanning nearly 4,700 acres in North Calcasieu Parish is facing pushback from residents and at least one state lawmaker, who say the project threatens the rural and residential character of the Moss Bluff, DeQuincy, and Gillis areas.
The project, known as the Persimmon Energy Center, is being developed by Orion Renewable Energy Group, a renewable energy company based in Oakland, California. According to the company, the project would generate up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity and represents a $1.7 billion investment in the parish.
State Rep. Brett Geymann, (R) Lake Charles, whose District 35 includes Moss Bluff, has been vocal in his opposition to the project in recent weeks, saying it does not belong in what has long been a “bedroom community.”
“We work in industry, and we live in Moss Bluff,” Geymann said. “What’s happening now is, you have industrial type applications wanting to come into that bedroom community, and that’s what’s causing the push back from the Moss Bluff people. We really don’t want that.”
Geymann said he believes the top concern among residents is the potential impact on property values.
“I mean there’s a number of reasons why people may be opposed to it, but I believe the most likely reason someone is against it is concern of loss of property value in the area,” Geymann said. “It just changes the whole character of the Moss Bluff community.”
The Persimmon Energy Center is a separate project from a 2024 proposal by Aypa Power, known as the Cajun Crescent Energy Center, which would have been located on the east side of Moss Bluff. That project, a smaller 375-megawatt facility, was ultimately rejected by the Calcasieu Parish Planning and Zoning Board after a close vote.
As of this week, no application, exception request or zoning variance has been filed with Calcasieu Parish for the Persimmon Energy Center, according to Joseph Booth, the parish’s director of communication and media.
“No applications submitted or permits pulled at this time,” Booth told 7News.
Orion Renewable Energy Group confirmed to 7News that the project remains in its early planning stages.
“The project is still in the planning stages, and details such as the size of the project and placement of proposed facilities will be confirmed when the project proceeds through the zoning approval process,” Amanda Hoffman, project developer of Orion, said. “An application for a special exception request to the parish has not yet been filed, however, we expect to begin that process prior to the end of the year.”
Orion has already begun engaging with the community, including a presentation to the Rotary Club of DeQuincy earlier this month, where a company representative described the project as spanning across Ward 1 and Ward 6 in North Calcasieu Parish.
In response to concerns raised by Geymann and area residents, Orion said the project site is not located in the residential parts of Moss Bluff.
“The proposed project area is located in northern Ward 6 and portions of Ward 1 that are directly west of the Gillis area,” the company said. “This is a rural area far away from the residential/suburban areas of Moss Bluff.”
Orion also addressed concerns about the project’s impact on nearby property values, an issue that has been raised in other solar developments around the country.
“There is no evidence that utility-scale solar projects sited in rural areas with proper setbacks from residences and include vegetative screening, such as will be utilized at this project, negatively affect property values,” the company said. “A multitude of county assessors across states with operating utility-scale solar projects, including those in Louisiana, have confirmed that utility-scale solar projects have not negatively affected property values.”
However, some independent research has found mixed results. A 2024 review by LSU’s Center for Energy Studies found evidence of potential property-value reductions ranging from 1.5% to 6.9% in existing research, with impacts particularly associated with homes located within one mile of solar facilities.
Orion said the project will include a minimum 300-foot setback between solar panels and residential property lines, along with vegetative buffers.
“In compliance with Louisiana state Guidance Memorandum Act 279, setbacks for residential property lines will be a minimum of 300 feet from a residential property line to a solar panel,” the company said. “In addition, this setback also includes an extensive vegetative buffer consisting of trees and shrubs to screen the project from view for non-participating residences.”
Geymann has previously compared that setback distance unfavorably to other parishes, including Iberia Parish, which he says requires a 2,640-foot setback, or roughly half a mile, for solar developments.
Geymann has also pursued statewide setback requirements through legislation. Last year, he authored House Bill 615, which would have set stricter statewide regulations for solar facilities, including an initial proposal requiring a full mile of separation between solar projects and the nearest residential property. The bill failed in a 47-52 House floor vote in May 2025 amid opposition from solar industry and business groups. Geymann has said he is now drafting a new version of the legislation, including a proposed moratorium bill that would pause new solar development while the state revisits its setback and siting standards.
Orion says it plans to offer direct payments to nearby property owners through what it calls its “Solar Neighbor Program.”
“Any homeowner within 1/3 of a mile of a solar panel is eligible to participate, and payments increase 30% every 10 years,” the company said. “This is a purely voluntary program that has no strings attached or obligations to the project. The SNP stays with the property, so it will transfer to any new owners over the operating life of the project.”
The exact number of households eligible for the program has not yet been determined, the company said, and will be provided as part of the special exception process once filed.
Orion also said it has committed to annual funding for local fire departments, recreation districts and school organizations in Ward 1 and Ward 6, in addition to what the company describes as substantial property tax revenue for the parish. The company estimates the project will generate approximately $470 million in local tax dollars over 35 years of operation, and says it will create more than 400 construction jobs, prioritizing local hires.
In response to criticism that the project’s benefits flow mainly through taxing authorities rather than directly to residents, Orion said the benefits are “large” and “multi-layered,” pointing to the Solar Neighbor Program payments alongside the broader tax revenue and community funding commitments.
Geymann said he believes residents on both sides of the issue must make their voices heard whenever the zoning process begins.
“There’s going to be a zoning hearing, and the community is going to have to get engaged,” Geymann said. “That’s the only way that the decision will be determined by the community. Otherwise, it’ll just happen.”
No hearing date has been set. KPLC will continue to follow this story as it develops.
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