In Foley, a 619-acre former turf farm is being considered for conversion into a solar farm. The Foley Planning Commission has voted to recommend designating the site as a planned industrial district (PID), which would enable the land to be used for solar power generation. The proposal will now go before the Foley City Council for approval.

Turf Properties, the landowner, has proposed the project, which includes a 250-foot buffer zone between the solar panels and neighboring properties. Fences, trees, and landscaping will be put in place to ensure minimal visual impact on the surroundings. Mayor Ralph Hellmich believes that the solar facility would benefit the community without adding pressure on schools or roads.

“There’s going to be no impact on the schools, yet they’re going to get about $800,000 a year in taxes,” Hellmich said. “They will have their property abated for 10 years and then they’ll pay taxes. The construction will take about a year and a half. It won’t tear the roads up. The trucks are not heavy because they’re carrying panels that are not heavy.”

Hecate Energy, the company developing the project, has reassured residents concerned about the visibility of the solar farm and its potential effect on property values. Andrew Boggs, vice president for Hecate Energy, said that the landscaping and fencing would protect the view from neighboring properties, and that solar farms have less impact on land and property values than other industrial uses.

Additionally, Hecate Energy addressed concerns about hurricane damage, stating that their solar farms are designed to withstand heavy winds and that no damage to neighboring properties has occurred in the past.

Boggs said Hecate operates solar farms in many areas that have been hit by major hurricanes. The panels have not caused any damage to other property.

“In heavy winds, hurricanes and things like that, the solar farm automatically goes into storm mode, which turns the solar panels flat like a wing, so the wind just goes over them,” Boggs said. “We haven’t had a hurricane problem in 10 years and we have solar farms all over the country. They’ve been hit, but there’s never been a fly-off of a module.”

The electricity generated at the proposed site will be sold to Alabama Power, which will benefit the local community. The solar farm could operate for 25 to 40 years before the solar panels need replacement, after which the materials can be recycled and the land used for other purposes.