(WKYT) An 830-acre solar farm could come to Madison County by 2030. The Madison County Board of Adjustments heard from the company behind the project and from residents Thursday night before tabling a decision.
Silicon Ranch, a Nashville-based company that already has three other solar projects in Kentucky, is looking to bring its latest farm to Madison County.
Hayley Gooch, who lives adjacent to the proposed project, said the land is more useful in the hands of ranchers.
“So 800 acres to take away from that, what’s that going to do to our food supply. It doesn’t just go the shelves automatically in Walmart. It starts somewhere, and that starts with your local farmers and ranchers,” Gooch said.
Other residents raised concerns about possible impacts on the land, damage to roads, flooding and light pollution.
Bob Corney, head of external affairs for Silicon Ranch, said the company plans to maintain the project long term.
“When we build these projects, we’re not building them to flip them, we’re building them like you would build your forever home,” Corney said.
Silicon Ranch said while it contracts specialists for a large portion of the project, some of the less technical work could go to local contractors. Robert Akin, of the building trades and construction union, said that would be a net positive.
“Not only to provide jobs for members, but to provide opportunities for young people to get into the construction trades and have a career,” Akin said.
Gooch and her family live on property that would be next to the development. Two days ago, she started a petition against the project that has reached more than 1,200 signatures online.
“You know it’s time to start listening to the people here. Whenever I learned there was hope, I decided, hey, maybe I could do something,” Gooch said.
Corney said the project could power 10,000 homes and businesses in the area.
“The likelihood is that this will power this community… so it helps utilities and others manage rates and stabilize rates over time,” Corney said.
After more than two hours of discussion and deliberation, the board decided to table a decision until a later date. Both sides agreed with the board’s choice to table a decision to give them more time to review their proposals, the facts and the public’s input.