By DAVID PIERCE
NEA Town Courier
Nearly 60 days into a 180-day moratorium halting new construction of solar fields in Mississippi County, the quorum court unanimously passed an ordinance allowing Next Era Energy to move forward with its three projects.
Stating that the construction of the company’s solar farm facilities had commenced prior to the moratorium, the ordinance addressed each of the three projects – Forgeview Solar, Manila Solar and Green Mallard Solar – individually and allows all three to continue.
“The moratorium was not to impact ongoing projects,” said Justice Michael White, “just pause new (ones).”
All three projects are located in the north county specifically near Walmart and Lowes in Blytheville; just outside of Blytheville to the west before the intersection of Highway 18 and Highway 239; and lastly, west of Dell.
Next Era representatives had met with the planning and development committee in early April to address multiple topics and concerns regarding solar farms and also were present at Tuesday’s monthly meeting. Representatives from Pattern Energy Group, too, were in attendance.
White emphasized that all eyes are on Mississippi County as counties throughout the state are having to consider the evolving green energy business across the state.
Justice Dr. Reggie Cullom, who has frequently brought light to potential negative aspects of such projects, voiced concerns regarding the impact to the county’s agricultural community. Acres devoted to farming are now being transferred to these fields and will likely put some out of work, plus result in population loss.
“We’re talking about the blue collar worker,” Cullom stressed, “those living by the sweat of their brow.
“What about them?” he continued. He added that once construction is complete he had learned that the solar fields will employ just three people. He said some 27,000 acres is being considered for green energy in south Mississippi County which equates to nearly 3.5 farmers going out of business.
Cullom was not opposed to this ordinance as he said “I 100 percent agree,” that Next Era should be allowed to move forward since those were already in the construction phase. His concern seems to lie in growing interest among landowners to replace agriculture with green energy.
In other business, the court passed an ordinance establishing an account for the Road Department Grant in order to track revenues and expenditures for the fund.