Our
Project
Solar projects are a driver of economic development. They don’t require any county resources, yet they produce a substantial amount of tax revenue. Likewise, solar leases can provide A STEADY SOURCE OF INCOME FOR LOCAL LANDOWNERS.
The project also CREATES JOBS AND GENERATES SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY in the project area. And of course, as a community uses energy, they have an interest in ensuring it is produced cleanly and affordably.
Project sites are carefully chosen and located near existing energy infrastructure where they can best benefit the electric grid.
Walker Springs proposal is three separate projects that are adjacent and go through separate development processes.
We consider local solar resources, potential environmental impacts, and the need to locate landowners who are willing to sell or lease their land for the life of the project.
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About the Walker Springs Project
Minimal Visual Impact
Low to the Ground & Screened by Trees
Part of project planning involves minimizing visual impacts. The average height of a solar panel is less than 10 feet tall, whereas we are keeping existing buffers in place comprised of mature pines excess of 20 feet tall.
Respect for Neighbors
Respecting Neighbors' Land
Preservation of view sheds is an important part of the development process. Thick stands of mature timber are being left in place along many of the roads and parcel boundaries in order to provide ample visual buffers.
Quiet Neighbors
Similar to the Noise of a Babbling Brook
Solar farms are quiet neighbors. At the fence line, the sound from the onsite inverters is a minor hum – equivalent to the sound of a brook. Further offsite, no noise can be heard.
“Most of the locations were in either suburban or rural areas, and all of these studies found either a neutral impact or, ironically, a positive impact, where values on properties after the installation of solar farms went up higher than time trends.”
– Donald Fisher, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers
Property Values
No Negative Impact on Property Values
The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers supports the conclusion that solar in rural communities has no impact on property values.
Reclamation
Guaranteed to Restore Property to Natural State
There is a decommissioning plan in place to return the property to its natural state at the end of the project’s useful life. The plan is guaranteed by a performance bond.
Community Benefits
Significant Benefits for the Local Economy
The Walker Springs project will stimulate $24-28 million in local spending during construction. It will generate $14-18 million in property taxes over the life of the project. Construction will create 600 jobs and dozens of permanent jobs, and local businesses will also benefit from local economic activity during development and operation.
$24-30
million
in total local economic activity
210-250
construction jobs as well as
6-9 long-term jobs
$48-55
million
in property taxes over the life of the project to support public safety, education, roads and services for the county.