Protesters express concerns about the Soul City solar project

JACKSON, Mrs. – Hinds County will soon be home to the largest solar farm in Mississippi. The Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to approve the Soul City Solar project. Earlier, the County Board unanimously denied this.

The project was supported by District 1 Supervisor Robert Graham, District 2 Supervisor Tony Smith and District 4 Supervisor Wanda Evers. It was opposed by District 3 Supervisor Deborah Butler-Dixon and District 5 Supervisor Bobby McGowan.

Early Monday morning, several dozen protesters camped outside the Hinds County Courthouse. Later they reported to the supervisors’ chambers. They expressed concerns that chemicals from the solar farm were leaching into neighboring properties and disturbing the natural landscape.

An online petition against the project collected almost 800 signatures. Allison Lauderdale of Raymond wrote: “While we support the transition to renewable energy sources and recognize the importance of sustainability, we believe that the installation of large-scale solar farms in our community will have several adverse impacts that should be carefully considered.” She listed visual and aesthetic concerns, agricultural land use, property values ​​and more.

Solar installations are not new to Mississippi. Earlier this year, Mississippi State University announced that it plans to become carbon neutral by 2042. The campus will install 3,420 solar panels and is expected to begin generating energy this summer.

A new solar farm will be built between Bolton and Raymond as part of a project that has been planned for some time. It is expected to produce enough energy to power more than 95,000 homes a year, according to Charlottesville, Virginia-based Apex Clean Energy, which is building the facility.

Solar City of the Soul

The company calls itself “Soul City Solar” in reference to Jackson and says the project will boost Hinds County’s economy. It promises up to $150 million in long-term tax revenue for local schools and district services.

“Power from Soul City Solar will be delivered to Mississippi’s local power grid, helping diversify the state’s energy portfolio,” the company says on its project website. “Solar energy is currently one of the most profitable sources of electricity. Its ability to produce power during peak hours helps lower electricity costs for all consumers.”

The company plans to start construction this year. Meanwhile, the owners of nearby properties have reportedly already agreed to the terms. Additionally, up to 400 workers will be employed during the construction.

A cautious future

A new Public Service Commission may take up this project in the future. After the county’s vote, Central County Public Utilities Commissioner DeKeither Stamps (D) was cautious in his comments.

“We have to be careful with any type of energy generation we introduce,” Stamps told the Magnolia Tribune on Monday. He took office in January.

His predecessor, former Central District Public Utilities Commissioner Brent Bailey, accepted a campaign donation from Apex Clean Energy while seeking re-election last year. Specifically, Bailey, the Republican who lost to Stamps, received $1,000 in March 2023 from Apex Clean Energy Holdings, LLC.

Another former Public Utilities Commissioner, Brandon Presley, a former Northern District commissioner who ran unsuccessfully for governor in the 2023 Democratic primary, received $1,000 in February 2020 from Apex Clean Energy, Inc PAC.

However, neither Stamps nor the other two new PSC commissioners, Chris Brown and Wayne Carr, are listed as having received donations from the company.

Additionally, county-level campaign finance reports were not immediately available for review.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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