The Vernon Parish Police Jury met on Sept. 21 before a standing-room-only crowd, with industrial solar farms again a major topic of discussion.
Neighbors of the proposed 10,000-plus-acre Treaty Oaks Clean Energy solar farm joined residents from across the parish to learn more about the proposed project and proposed regulations. The project was previously described as including approximately 4,600 acres of solar array and a substation in Phase 1, approximately 5,700 acres of solar array in Phase 2 and a nine-mile generation interconnect aerial utility line in Phase 3.
Nancy Whitlock spoke about erosion she said has affected areas of East Texas near industrial solar farms. She questioned how the company planned to mitigate erosion concerns in Vernon Parish, noting the area’s sandy and hilly landscape.
Whitlock also questioned the potential effects of erosion, increased traffic on one-lane roads, noise and light pollution on her quality of life and livestock.
James Afeman presented information to the police jury concerning Treaty Oaks Clean Energy’s reported history of working with local residents, including a situation in Sumter, South Carolina. Afeman expressed concern about whether the company would listen to local residents’ concerns.
Alli Merchant expressed concerns about air quality and potential health effects associated with increased dust and constant noise from a nearby industrial solar farm.
Julie Richmond Sauer presented a devaluation study conducted by LSU that showed property values decreased within one mile of industrial solar farms. She said the information used in the study came from documents produced by the solar industry and suggested that, if the study were skewed, the one-mile finding would likely be a conservative measurement. Sauer also referenced other studies gathered and published by Mary McClinton Clay that she said provided evidence of decreased property values at distances beyond one mile.
Sauer suggested that one-mile setbacks would be appropriate, while a half-mile setback with waivers could provide property owners who do not object to decreased property values or who choose to make an agreement with an industrial solar farm some bargaining power. She also asked that the final ordinance require industrial solar farms to meet both state and parish ordinances, whichever establishes the higher standard.
Stacy Merchant presented concerns about the potential impact of the proposed industrial solar farm on his cattle business. He also brought Nick Gehrig, a cattleman from Beauregard Parish, to testify about his experience living and operating a cattle business next to the Singer industrial solar farm.
Gehrig described his experience as a “nightmare.” He reported cattle losses that he attributed to dust, despite reporting the problem and mitigation efforts being attempted. He said dust and related problems persisted to the point that he had to move his cattle back at least one-quarter mile from his fenced property.
Nick Jasman, Development Director for Treaty Oaks Clean Energy, gave a presentation and answered questions from the police jury. Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn asked several direct questions.
Members of the crowd expressed frustration with some of the answers provided. Jasman referred several times to the project being in its early phases and said he was unable to answer some questions at this time.
Vernon Parish Police Jury President Jim Tuck Jr. asked that the proposed ordinance vote be tabled until more information could be gathered.
The police jury previously adopted a temporary moratorium on the development, establishment and construction of solar farms in unincorporated areas of Vernon Parish during an Aug. 10 meeting.