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Residents oppose proposed Rupert Road solar site, citing wildlife, noise and property-value concerns
Summary
Multiple residents told the Iredell County Board of Commissioners they oppose a proposed solar power installation near Rupert Road and other North Iredell sites, raising concerns about wildlife impacts, noise from inverters, chemical contamination and property values.
Residents from several North Iredell neighborhoods told the Iredell County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday they oppose proposed solar power installations near Rupert Road and Coalbrook Road and urged the board to consider environmental, health and economic impacts.
Amy Marlowe of 612 Linney’s Mill Road said the development proposed for Rupert Road (she referenced a proposal identified as “01/15”) should not be called a “solar farm” because, she said, the term suggests agricultural use. “It is a disruption and disadvantage to our community and land,” Marlowe said, and listed concerns including panel glare, transformer or inverter noise, the volume of land cleared for arrays and potential release of heavy metals if panels are damaged. “The EPA considers solar panel waste as hazardous,” she said.
Other speakers echoed environmental and property concerns. Bill Burgess of 308 Rupert Road said he opposes the project for environmental and health reasons. Susan Digiacomo said she appreciated the commissioners’ earlier comments that they consider public-safety concerns and urged the board to “follow the money” behind pro-solar advocacy. Several speakers cited lawsuits and Attorney General actions in other states as reasons for caution.
Why this matters: speakers raised potential long-term effects — including reduced property values, wildlife disruption, noise from inverters and fire risk — and asked the county to scrutinize financial assumptions, subsidy reliance and reclamation/cleanup plans.
Board response and status: Commissioner Stroud said the county is not aware of any formal application for a solar project at this time and encouraged opponents to continue attending planning and public meetings and to contact state representatives. No formal permitting or vote on a solar project occurred at the meeting.
What residents want: residents asked the board to (1) require thorough environmental review and public input before permitting, (2) consider alternatives such as rooftop or pole-mounted panels, and (3) demand clear decommissioning and remediation plans and financial assurances for cleanup after panels reach end of life.
Ending: Commissioners took no action on the proposals at Tuesday’s meeting; staff and the board said they will review applications when or if a formal permit is filed.
