Stephens Co. Solar Panel Project Moving Forward

A solar panel farm project in Stephens County appears to be moving full speed ahead.

Tuesday, the Stephens County Development Authority board voted to approve and execute a lease agreement with a company called United Renewable Energy of Alpharetta for the company to construct a solar panel farm on land the Development Authority owns off of Wolf Pit and Turner roads.

It is all part of a Georgia Power initiative to increase its use of solar power.

Stephens County Development Authority Executive Director Tim Martin said that the Development Authority is pleased to be involved in this effort.

“Later on this winter, we will see those panels constructed and the land cleared,” said Martin.  “That construction activity does not translate into any jobs, but it does mean that we will be participating in advanced solar panel technology.  We are quite excited about that.”

Martin said that the Development Authority will lease the land to URE, who will run the project.

He went on to say that the land being used has room for expansion of this effort down the road.

“Due to this foot in the door with Georgia Power, we expect, anticipate, hope that we will get some additional business with Georgia Power and some additional panels will be constructed over the coming years,” said Martin.

The land where the solar panels are going is next to a Georgia Power substation and the power that is generated would add to Georgia Power’s current supply.