Baldwin County hires Jacobs Engineering to prepare for potential utility-scale solar review
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Summary
Commissioners authorized a contract with Jacobs Engineering to assemble technical review and permitting support should a utility-scale solar proposal be filed. County staff said no application has yet been received and the work is preparatory.
The Baldwin County Commission voted Feb. 19 to contract with Jacobs Engineering for consultant and engineering services to support permitting review and technical evaluation if a utility-scale solar energy facility application is submitted in the future.
Jay (county staff) told commissioners the county had not received any formal application for a solar facility but said "this is just showing good faith that the county commission...we are preparing ourselves" so the county will have technical resources to review a proposal if and when it arrives. Jay asked the commission to authorize the scope of services with Jacobs so staff can quickly access environmental, stormwater and design expertise.
Scott Jernigan of Jacobs explained the firm's capabilities and said the company would support the county from its Pensacola team on water/wastewater, environmental and stormwater modeling, wetlands and threatened and endangered species, and that Jacobs can also review solar-field design and best management practices. "We'll be supporting Jay on any technical aspects of the project that he's looking for," Jernigan said.
Commissioners emphasized they had not approved any development layout or application and that the vote simply authorized the county to retain technical expertise. Commissioner Gruber made the motion to hire Jacobs; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously by voice vote.
County staff said the authorization will allow site visits, environmental reviews and technical reports as needed when an application is filed; no project-specific layout, budget or timeline was provided at the meeting.
