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Developer pitches 400-acre solar site; residents warn of widespread conversion of farmland
Summary
A representative for Energy Re outlined plans and studies for a proposed 400-acre solar facility in northern Granville County; nearby residents voiced strong opposition at public comment, raising concerns about tree clearing, property values and cumulative development.
Patrick Moore, representing Energy Re, told the Granville County Board of Commissioners the company has contracts with Duke Energy and local landowners to propose a roughly 400-acre solar facility near the intersection of Henry Huff and Webb Chapel roads. He said he supplied maps, a decommissioning plan, real-estate and health-and-safety reports and urged commissioners and residents to review them.
“This is not proprietary information. Please pass those on to anybody that has questions,” Moore said, adding that a community benefits agreement can address local expectations not required by ordinance — for example, job training, internships or fire-suppression equipment funding.
At public comment, James Daniel, a nearby landowner, opposed additional large-scale solar developments in Granville County. “I’m trying to put down a solar farm — but I’m not gonna call it a farm because the farm cultivates... A solar farm doesn't do that. So I call it a solar field,” Daniel said, arguing that permitting one project could lead to many and change the county’s rural character.
Daniel said neighbors on multiple roads had opposed earlier proposals and expressed worry that the county lacks sufficient infrastructure and controls to manage a proliferation of large solar projects.
Commissioners did not take action on the project during the meeting; the remarks were part of the public comment record. Moore encouraged residents to contact Energy Re for project maps and reports and to raise issues they wanted reflected in a community benefits agreement.
Next steps: The transcript records only public comment and company outreach materials; no application or regulatory hearing on the specific project was decided at this session.
