![\"[Rainbow](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/govt\/houstonco\/2020-12-01--houston-co\/many.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\nRainbow Perry Solar<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nThat’s Perry Solar or Houston Solar, south of Perry, GA, in Houston County:\r\na county that puts its board packets online, unlike Lowndes County.\r\n
\r\nI took these pictures May 4, 2022, at\r\n32.3739740, -83.7685020<\/a>,\r\nwhich is around I-75 mile 130, about half way from Perry, GA, to GA 26 at Exit 127.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nThat’s just south of no-exit Firetower Road, also known as Red Dirt Road.\r\nSo it’s what Silicon Ranch calls Houston Solar Project<\/a>,\r\n \r\nThe 68-megawatt (MWac) Houston Solar Project is part of another\r\nsignificant expansion of the partnership between Silicon Ranch and\r\nGreen Power EMC. More than 30 of GPEMC’s Member EMCs across the\r\nstate will share in the energy produced by the Houston Solar\r\nProject.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\nOr Perry Solar, according to the\r\nmap in the Houston County Commission Agenda for December 1, 2020<\/a>.\r\nThat’s right, Houston County puts\r\n\r\nits entire board packet online with its agenda<\/a>,\r\nunlike Lowndes County, Georgia.\r\nHouston County at 157,000 people is not a lot bigger than Lowndes County at 117,000.\r\n \r\n \r\nAs you can see from the googlemap aerial, apparently the site was formerly\r\noccupied by planted pines.\r\n \r\nAshton Packer, WGXA News, Friday, May 14, 2021,\r\n\r\nNew Houston County solar farm to power 11,000 homes<\/a>,\r\n \r\nHOUSTON COUNTY, Ga.— On just less than 800 acres of land\r\noutside Perry, a major state-wide solar project is underway.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nIt begins with a 55 million dollar investment and ends with the\r\nability to power 11,000 Georgia households with renewable energy.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nThe project belongs to Silicon Ranch, an independent solar power\r\nproducer from Nashville.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nSince breaking ground in December 2020, the company has poured\r\nmillions into the land (on Firetower Road, just off I-75), the\r\nequipment, and in hiring more than 300 local workers.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nSilicon Ranch has partnered with Green Power EMC, a renewable power\r\ndistributor based in Tucker. Green Power distributes to 30 different\r\nlocal EMCs across the state, including Middle Georgia EMC, Central\r\nGeorgia EMC, and Oconee EMC.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nOnce complete, the farm will be capable of generating 68 megawatts\r\nof power in a year. For perspective, 400 homes can be powered for a\r\nyear on just one megawatt.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nThe project has attracted approval from several state officials,\r\nincluding the Governor himself.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“We are excited that Silicon Ranch continues to make significant\r\ninvestments in Georgia communities to power homes and businesses\r\nwith low-cost, locally generated solar energy,” said Kemp in a press\r\nrelease.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nSeveral statements from Silicon Ranch and Green Power EMC have also\r\nsaid that this solar power will come at a low cost, though it’s not\r\nclear exactly how low that might be.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nWGXA reached out for comment from Houston County Commission\r\nChairman, Tommy Stalnaker, on potential rates and when residents can\r\nexpect the new power in their homes.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nSince this story has aired, Stalnaker has not responded.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\n \r\nHouston County Chairman Stalnaker was already on the record\r\non page 3 of the Minutes for the December 1, 2020, meeting of the Houston County Commission<\/a>:\r\n \r\nChairman Stalnaker remarked that the Silicon Ranch Corp. is\r\nconstructing a solar farm that will be an asset to Houston County.\r\nIt will be located on Firetower Road east of I75 and will be a good\r\nsource of energy for the EMCs. He recognized Mr. Larry Walker,\r\nHouston County Development Authority Chairman Ben Hulbert, and\r\nExecutive Director Angie Gheesling.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nMs. Gheesling thanked the Commissioners and School Superintendent\r\nDr. Mark Scott for support of this project and remarked that it\r\nbrings a $55 million investment that will generate the type of green\r\npower renewable energy that prospective companies look for in a\r\ncommunity. Silicon Ranch brings a different approach from most solar\r\ncompanies in that they will own this property rather than lease it.\r\nFlint EMC will be a partner in this project. She thanked General\r\nHammerstedt for her comments relative to our community.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nChairman Hulbert characterized Silicon Ranch as a first-class\r\ncompany and expressed his appreciation for the support this project\r\nreceived from the Board of Commissioners and others involved. He\r\nalso thanked Mr. Thomson and Mr. McMichael for their service to our\r\ncommunity.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nMr. Larry Walker reiterated that this project was a private\r\ninvestment not a statefunded project. He commented that he is proud\r\nof Silicon Ranch’s commitment and that we are fortunate Houston\r\nCounty was chosen for this project site.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\n \r\nThat result was reported in the\r\nHouston Home Journal, unknown date, but probably December 1 or 2, 2022,\r\n \r\nSolar Farm Special Exception approved<\/a>,\r\n \r\nThe first items of new business consisted of more public hearings\r\nfor Special Exception Applications, 10 of which were approved, and\r\nfour were tabled. On the number of Special Exception Applications,\r\nChairman and Chief Executive Officer Tommy Stalnaker said,\r\n“Normally, we don’t have this many special exceptions. We’ve had a\r\nlot more in recent months, and we’ve discussed it internally. It’s\r\ncertainly a sign of the times, where people are looking to augment\r\nthe current level of employment, or they’re doing this for a level\r\nof employment.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nFurthermore, Stalnaker went on record to proclaim his approval of\r\nthe new Silicon Ranch solar farm in Bibb and Houston County. “It is\r\nin direct benefit to Robins Air Force Base,” he stated,\r\nproviding a secondary source of power to the base itself. “Silicon\r\nRanch is a good company,” he added, “I think it will be a good\r\nasset to the county.” Executive Director Angie Gheesling, as\r\nwell as Chairman Ben Hulbert of the Houston County Development\r\nAuthority both spoke afterward and stated their excitement for the\r\nnew solar farm, as well as the industry and business it will bring\r\nto the county. Silicon Ranch is a Tennessee based “Solar Energy\r\nPioneer,” and its solar farm within our community will be\r\nprivately owned.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\nSilicon Ranch has on its website as a news story, with the date missing, \r\nan announcement from the Georgia governor<\/a>.\r\nWhich turns out to be from November 17, 2020, Governor Kemp Announces $55 Million Investment for Houston County<\/a>,\r\n \r\n…\r\n \r\nSilicon Ranch, one of the nation’s largest independent solar power\r\nproducers, has selected Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, Inc.\r\n(NASDAQ: IEA) as the general contractor for the project. IEA is\r\nscheduled to commence construction on December 1, 2020 and plans to\r\nhire more than 300 craft workers, the majority of whom will be\r\nrecruited from Houston County and the surrounding area.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“Silicon Ranch is committed to making a positive difference in\r\nthe communities we serve, and we’re pleased to work with our\r\npartners at Green Power EMC and IEA to execute this vision in\r\nHouston County,” said Silicon Ranch Co-Founder and Chairman\r\nMatt Kisber, who previously served eight years as Tennessee\r\nCommissioner of Economic and Community Development. “I also\r\nwant to thank Chairman Tommy Stalnaker for his leadership and the\r\nHouston County Board of Commissioners for welcoming Silicon Ranch\r\nand this project to the community. Based on our company’s\r\nexperience, I can understand why Georgia remains the number one\r\nstate for doing business in the United States.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“Silicon Ranch is truly a leader in solar innovation, and we\r\nare honored that they have chosen to make such a substantial capital\r\ninvestment in Houston County,” said Tommy Stalnaker, chairman\r\nof the Houston County Board of Commissioners. “We look forward\r\nto a productive partnership with Silicon Ranch and hope to expand\r\nour relationship in the years to come.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“I’m excited about Silicon Ranch Corporation’s sizeable\r\ninvestment in Houston County and appreciative of all the work by\r\nlocal leaders and our development partners to bring this project to\r\nfruition,” said Sen. Larry Walker (R — Perry). “As\r\nHouston County continues to grow, our need for low-cost, sustainable\r\nenergy will increase, and this project will, no doubt, promote\r\nadditional economic development in our community. I want to thank\r\nSilicon Ranch and Green Power EMC for their commitment to meeting\r\nour future energy needs.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“Many of the world’s largest businesses are making the\r\navailability of renewable energy a key factor in their location\r\ndecisions,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development\r\nCommissioner Pat Wilson. “The commitment by Silicon Ranch and\r\nGeorgia’s EMCs underscores that we are ready to meet the business\r\nrequirements of the modern economy.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n“More than 30 EMCs have supported this Project, which will\r\nproduce enough clean, renewable energy to help power more than\r\n11,000 EMC households,” said Jeff Pratt, president of Green\r\nPower EMC. “We’re proud that in addition to providing our\r\nmembers with reliable and affordable solar energy, our work can\r\nfurther support economic development in Houston County.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\n \r\nThat’s between two branches of Elko Creek, which eventually flows into the Ocmulgee River, and thus to the Altamaha River and the Atlantic Ocean.\r\n \r\n -jsq\r\n<\/p>\r\n![\"[Location,](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/govt\/houstonco\/2020-12-01--houston-co\/location.jpg\")
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Location, Firetower Road, between Perry, GA and GA 26<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
![\"[Map:](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/govt\/houstonco\/2020-12-01--houston-co\/12-01-2020-Agenda-0082.jpg\")
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Map: Perry Solar<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
![\"[Viewpoint]\"](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/govt\/houstonco\/2020-12-01--houston-co\/viewpoint.jpg\")
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Viewpoint<\/a>\r\n 32.3739740, -83.7685020<\/a>\r\n<\/span>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n![\"[Rainbow](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/govt\/houstonco\/2020-12-01--houston-co\/20220504_191839.jpg\")
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Rainbow solar end<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
![\"[Rainbow](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/govt\/houstonco\/2020-12-01--houston-co\/20220504_191821.jpg\")
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Rainbow solar hill<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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![\"[Rainbow](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/govt\/houstonco\/2020-12-01--houston-co\/20220504_191827.jpg\")
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Rainbow solar power<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n