Resident urges county to pause permit review for proposed utility-scale solar farm

A resident urged Calhoun County officials to pause permit review for a proposed utility-scale solar farm in unincorporated areas, saying the county should verify permitting, materials certifications and cumulative drainage impacts before construction proceeds. The speaker asked county counsel to confirm that all filings and certifications are in place and said time is of the essence to protect neighboring property owners.

"Their marketing state and local filings all say their monthly plan would be accurate about 890 megawatts for the blue energy," the resident said, and argued that a utility-scale project of that size could compact soil, worsen flooding on the peninsula and cause lasting drainage harm. The speaker asked the board to "review the scope of the entire project or the cumulative effects" and to "confirm with city attorney, county attorney the next steps" before permitting moves forward. The comment requested that permit processing be paused until studies, certifications and funding sources are documented.

The resident framed the appeal as a request for enforcement of existing county review responsibilities for development plans, and urged officials to require contractor certifications, construction specifications and appropriate permitting before any ground disturbance. No formal county vote on the project was recorded during the discussion; the item was presented as public comment asking for procedural checks and legal review.