29-01-2025
FP&L officials move forward with solar energy center amid residents' concerns
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Late last year, Florida Power and Light proposed a fourth solar energy facility during a Jackson County planning board meeting. Dozens of locals protested the project that would require clearing 1,049 acres of forest, wetland, and farmland in Graceville.
They ultimately turned down the application. FP&L had no power lines on the property on the land in Graceville and therefore had no connection to a power source.
On Tuesday night, FP&L held an open house to meet with residents. Almost two months ago, Florida Power and Light presented a solar energy center on land in Graceville. Residents expressed concerns over environmental impacts, health effects, safety issues, and overall lack of transparency from FP&L.
While many locals expressed they are not anti-solar, they don't feel like Graceville is the right fit.
In the end, the planning board told FP&L officials to resubmit the application when they could find a power source connection on the property. Some residents are concerned about where they'll find that connection.
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Resident Michael Davis is a 7th generation land owner.
'We own a mile of property from this site to their transmission line. And I don't give up a mile of right away for a transmission line for a solar farm we don't want there in the first place, and I don't want that around my children and grandchildren,' Davis said.
Dozens of residents attended Tuesday night's open house to find some officials are still optimistic over the potential project.
'Solar energy centers like this one have many benefits. First of all, it provides local tax revenue for the county, which is important, and the county can use at their discretion for different services. Also, these solar sites create about 200 jobs at peak construction. So, it creates a boost to global economy. And this is a zero-emission source of energy that's good for the environment. And we're excited to propose this project here,' FP&L spokesperson Florencia Olivera said.
Residents say they've seen the problems existing solar farms have caused, and hope county officials vote against it.
'I just hope that the county votes for their citizens and planning and zoning, they're good people. They know, understand Jackson County people. I look around this room and I don't see a single person here who supports this. And so we got good county commissioners and planning and zoning. And so I just hope and pray that it don't clear that hurdle,' Davis said.
The planning board is tentatively set to discuss the issue again on February 17th. Officials did not say how they are moving forward with the power source issue.
Many of the residents that attended the open house said they preferred more of a meeting-style format, so they could receive more unified answers. Still, they said they were thankful for the opportunity to speak face-to-face with officials.
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