Silicon Ranch plans to construct one other Solar Farm within the county. This one will probably be one of many largest within the state with the corporate planning for 4,700 hectares.
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. – A Nashville-based firm is trying to carry extra photo voltaic power to Houston County. Silicon Ranch brings Houston Solar Project and Lambing Barn to Elko.
Now, they need to carry a 4,700-acre photo voltaic farm challenge to Kathleen.
However, not everyone seems to be so excited in regards to the plans.
Being an outsider is a attribute of John Trussell.
“My mother stated to go outdoors and play and he or she meant it, so I spent my youth outdoors looking and fishing,” he stated.
When the Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area opened within the Nineteen Sixties, he made it his second dwelling.
“It’s turn out to be part of who I’m and it is an excellent place to take pleasure in nature,” he shared.
Now he says there will probably be extra love to come back.
“You can camp right here free of charge, when you’ve got a looking or fishing license, which prices $15,” he stated.
He’s grateful for this gem positioned in Houston County, which he says got here shut in 2007-2010.
“We began the group, Save Oaky Woods, and we’re working with state and native officers to reserve it within the state,” Trussell stated.
Since then his efforts haven’t stopped. He stated he and others, like Area Manger Josh Holmes, are doing their greatest to assist the grounds. Back in 2011, Trussell wrote a e book, Saving Oaky Woods. Most just lately he and a group labored to restore the hearth tower. He stated it took 5 years they usually repaired the tower by way of donations.
“It’s now a part of the historic fireplace tower registry you could see on-line,” he shared.
Now, he stated a group remains to be working to get a rest room space so as to add to the campers. He stated that they plan to fee the proposal quickly.
The rescue and preservation work doesn’t finish there, as Silicon Ranch now hopes to construct its new photo voltaic tower proper on the sting of the park.
“It’s an incompatible use of adjoining property, and I believe folks needs to be strongly against it,” he stated.
He will not be towards the challenge.
“I like electrical energy. I prefer it after I activate the change and the sunshine comes on in the summertime. The air-con,” he stated.
Trussell stated he was towards it being so near Oaky Woods. He worries that it’ll hurt the wildlife close by.
“In the 80’s we estimated there have been about 65 bears right here. We now have about 300 bears,” he shared.
He stated animals want house to stay and discover meals freely. He stated taking away a few of their habitat would take away their potential to search out meals and shield themselves.
“They are spatially confined right here and alongside the river, and we have to make it possible for all of this land is preserved,” Trussell shared.
Ben Oberman, strategic partnerships and buyer options at Silicon Ranch, says they’re nonetheless within the early planning course of. He stated they submitted a challenge proposal to the County Planning and Zoning Board.
Trussell says it needs to be on the agenda for June 24 at 5:30 pm We haven’t gotten a second affirmation of this date.
Oberman additionally shared this assertion:
“We’re happy with the essential work we have already finished in Houston County with our Houston Solar Project alongside I-75 close to Elko, together with the Lambing Barn we just lately opened to the general public, and we’re proud to welcome the scholar group and in Georgia. Young Farmers Association to tour and be taught extra about our challenge. We additionally invested in our billboard to teach the general public and passing motorists in regards to the challenge and its advantages, in addition to have fun essential information in Houston County. Throughout our historical past right here in Houston County, we have made it a precedence to do what we have all the time finished at Silicon Ranch: hearken to our companions and neighborhood stakeholders, be taught from what they share, and put that data to work whereas we attempt to enhance our roles as renewable power producers, neighborhood members, and land stewards. Although it’s nonetheless early within the planning course of for our new challenge, it’s going to signify one other vital capital funding within the county and is predicted to generate tens of millions of {dollars} in extra tax income to assist assist native colleges. , infrastructure, and different community-identified priorities. “
