Solar, battery plant clears hurdle to come to Macon, Bullock counties

MACON/BULLOCK COUNTY, Ala. (WSFA) — A solar and battery plant proposed in both Macon and Bullock Counties has been approved by Alabama’s Public Service Commission.

It’s called “Clearview Ranch,” a 1,400-acre development that will produce 200 megawatts of solar generating capacity.

The battery energy storage system that will be on site will store up to 200 megawatts of energy and will be a reserve to be utilized during periods of high energy use.

The project will be owned, operated, and developed by Alabama Power, but they’re not paying for it.

The cost of the project will be covered by a subsidiary of Meta, and in turn Meta will get all the solar power generated from the facility for the next 20 years. That power will likely support a more than $1.5 billion data center Meta is building in Montgomery.

Alabama Power insists this project will not increase the cost of your power bill because of Meta’s involvement.

That was also the finding of the Public Service Commission at their August 4 meeting. In fact, “Alabama Power’s customers are expected to benefit over time,” according to Commission President Cynthia Lee Almond.

Alabama Power says construction will create about 400 jobs and the facility will produce about $110 million in state and local tax revenue over the next two decades.

$56 million of that tax revenue is expected to head to Bullock County, and $27 million to Macon County. $44 million of that revenue is projected to support local schools.

While the facility has been announced in Bullock and Macon counties, an exact location has not yet been announced.

Federal and state environmental reviews and permits must be completed before construction begins.

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