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Metro Moore County (MMC) and Silicon Ranch (SR) have signed an Energy Siting Agreement which now allows construction to begin on the solar panel farm. Construction will be in two phases. The first will be building the substation, the second will be installing the solar panels. Following are some of the stipulations included in the agreement. While by no means complete, some of the major elements are paraphrased here.

The agreed on permit fees are $4,500 for the substation, and $95,500 for the solar panels. SR also agrees to pay a Community Benefit Fee of $650,000. Only these fees paid will apply to the project regardless of any future amendments to the building permit fee schedule.

SR also agrees to pay for any damage done to county roadways that may be done during the construction process. SR has supplied plats showing which roadways will be used, along with access points to the facility. Both pre- and post-construction investigations will be performed by both SR developer and the Metro Highway Superintendent by driving and recording video of the project roads. These investigations will be compared and SR agrees to pay for repair of damages done, if any, after completion of the project.

The development standards for the facility include a six foot fence on the perimeter of the property. There will be a setback of at least eighty feet as a variance, and at least two hundred fifty feet from all residential homes occupied at the time of the site plan review. The standards also provide that a sixty foot vegetative buffer be in place to the extent necessary to screen panels from view of adjacent residential structures. The buffer will be planted with evergreen and others plants to include existing growth and vegetation. There must also be signage warning of the possible risks from contact with a solar panel. The sign must identify the owner of the panels, and provide a 24 hour emergency contact phone number. The sign may contain educational information about solar panels.

Decommissioning of the site is to begin no later than 12 months after the last solar panels have stopped producing electricity. SR will remove all panels, equipment, and remove the substation from the property and ensure that the land is returned to its natural state or better prior to construction. Prior to the decommissioning, an Environmental Site Assessment will be performed to determine whether any contamination or recognized environmental condition may exist directly caused by the facility in any manner. If there are any findings, a second test will be done to confirm or rule out any potential soil or water contamination. SR will take appropriate action to remediate any contamination, if found.

SR actually owns the land upon which the facility is being built. They currently have a 20-year contract with TVA for purchasing the power generated. As landowners, SR has options available at the end of the contract. The facility has a 40-year useful life, so they could contract again with TVA or other energy buyer. Little doubt that technology will change during that time period as energy demand grows. The facility could be upgraded or converted. Regardless, with the ecological plans in place, the land itself will be improved in the meantime. Should the plant be decommissioned, most of the materials are recyclable.

Metro Moore County agrees to approve site plans provided that they comply with development standards as of Oct. 18, 2022. They further agree to issue building permits upon receiving the application and supporting documentation, payment of the permit fee, approved site plan, and revised decommissioning plan.

SR plans to begin construction on the substation in January 2025, and to begin installing the solar panels later in the summer.