Solar company responds to community concerns over possible solar farm - WPSD Local 6

Solar company responds to community concerns over possible solar farm | <span class="tnt-section-tag no-link">Kentucky News</span> | WPSD Local 6

40 community members showed up to find out more about the Gage Solar Farm Project.

LA CENTER, Ky. — Ballard County community members expressed concerns about a possible solar farm coming to the area at the second Bright Night public meeting held Thursday, Feb. 15. The Gage Solar Farm project is one of many moving forward in western Kentucky. Residents are worried about long-term environmental effects and the closeness of the solar panels.

The 240-megawatt project will power close to 42,000 homes. The company is leasing approximately 1,900 acres of land, which is expected to be a $300 million investment.

Executive Vice President of Bright Night David Gil has worked in renewable energy for about 15 years. He said Ballard County is the perfect area to bring the Gage Solar Project.

Executive Vice President David Gil

"It's close to an area that has transmission capacity," Gil said. "A lot of the transmission grid in the United States are full. But there's an area around here where there's transmission capacity. There's also a lot of willing landowners who have land that is good for solar, relatively flat, and land that's used currently for ag or other uses but appropriate for solar panels."

Gil said the project will last up to 40 years, and the company is leasing the land from farm owners instead of buying it outright.

“We generally prefer to lease the land,” Gil said. “Our hope is that after the life of the project, we're returning this agricultural land to the farmers, and it can be returned to agricultural use. So that's an important reason, or one of the important reasons we're leasing land. Occasionally, we're buying properties. It's an exception rather than a rule, but over 90 percent of land is leased.”

One main concern raised by community members is the likelihood of chemical leaks from the solar panels. Gil said the solar panels they install contain aluminum, glass, plastic, and silicone-like sand. He assures the community the panels would not cause any harm to the environment.

Community members gaze upon plans on set by Bright Night.

"The EPA has deemed that solar panels are nonhazardous," he said. "It's all solid materials; there are no liquids to leak out of a solar panel. They're industrial-grade. So they are made to help withstand against tornadoes and hurricanes."

Another priority for community members is the proximity of the solar panels. Gil said the setback for the solar panels is 250 feet from someone's home and 100 feet from the street.

Some fear it can cause a spike in heat within the area, while some worry rural fire departments are ill-equipped to fight fires on a mass scale.

"Solar panels are not prone to fire," Gil said. "It's not a common thing for solar panels to cause extra heat. And I think there are some misinterpretations from some studies done in very urban areas with concrete. These are meant to absorb solar energy in order to produce energy. And so, you know, there's not a heat effect in the surrounding area."

Ronnie Yates

Ronnie Yates has been farming in Ballard County for most of his life. He owns 300 acres of land in the county. His biggest concern is the consistent changes in the company's plans.

"Everything seems to change; like mines have changed four times," Yates said.

Yates said he's for the project because it allows small farmers to generate extra income, but he needs to be more interested in leasing.

"They include property, then they take that property out and include a different one — like mine," he said. "Sometimes they'll tell you how much it's going to be, and then the next, it won't be that much."

Carl Dodge

Carl Dodge with Operating Engineers in Paducah wants to enter the solar industry. He said this could open doors for employment advancement within his company.

Despite the negative feedback he heard from the meeting, Dodge remained neutral and optimistic about the project's future.

"In a farming community," Dodge said. "I deem it as a negative impact to it. I'm hoping that it will show everybody that Ballard County is willing to grow with the times and adapt to the solar industry that's moving forward."

Ruth M.

Ruth M. has lived in Ballard County her whole life. She’s not against solar power, but she isn’t too thrilled about it coming to her area.

“This is land that is country and farmland,” she said. “I really don’t like that it's going to be changed forever if solar comes in here. My son has lived on this property all his life, and he’s going to be very unhappy.”

Ann Reid is also opposed to solar farms coming to her area. She likes the idea of solar farms and how they assist with power, but she believes Ballard County should be left off the list of possible areas.

“It’s not that I hate solar,” Reid said. “I know that it can be the future, but to be on our little road where we lived for 43 years and did not expect to view this the rest of our lives. I don’t like it, and I don’t think any amount of trees you put up is going to hide; it just changes things.”

Ann Reid

Bright Night is looking to submit an application to the Kentucky Sighting Board in May. The company hopes to have a permit by the end of the year, wants to start construction by the summer of 2025, and be operational by 2026.