A local state senator has filed two proposed laws in response to a controversial large-scale solar farm planned for rural north Baldwin County. State Sen. Greg
A local state senator has filed two proposed laws in response to a controversial large-scale solar farm planned for rural north Baldwin County. State Sen. Greg Albritton’s proposals come after residents voiced concerns about a 4,500-acre solar project by developer Silicon Ranch that would meet the power needs of a new Meta data center.
One bill would temporarily prohibit the construction of solar farms for one year. The second would give county commissions authority to regulate them. Residents say they were blindsided by the project and believe regulations would prevent that from happening again. “We just found out about this a month ago, and we’re all scrambling and trying to figure out, what do we do?” said Georgene Conner, Stockton Heritage Association President. Silicon Ranch says it is purchasing 4,500 acres in Baldwin County — nearly the size of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The company says fewer than 2,000 acres — or roughly 1,500 football fields — would actually be developed with solar panels. The land is located in rural Stockton where there is no zoning, meaning there is no local review process for land use changes or development. "We had no say so. Stockton and Rabun, our communities were completely left out of the conversation," said Meagan Fowler, Friends of the Tensaw River President. The only formal public discussion tied to the project occurred at an Alabama Public Service Commission meeting in December, when the PSC approved Alabama Power’s 25-year agreement to purchase energy from two Silicon Ranch subsidiary companies. Residents argue they were unaware of that meeting and only learned about the project in early February. “The Public Service Commission had a three-minute public hearing on this, which absolutely no one in this community knew about,” said Conner. “They met the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law, where you let the people have a voice.” Albritton’s first bill would establish a one-year moratorium on the construction and operation of new solar facilities. That measure passed out of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy on Wednesday with one amendment that would not include areas served by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The second bill would allow county commissions to regulate permitting, construction, and placement of solar farms. Supporters say this bill would give local residents a chance to weigh in before projects more forward. “I think what it will do is at least give us an opportunity to find out what’s going on so we can see how we need to address it,” said John Murphy, member of Friends of the Tensaw River. “It’s been pushed on us very fast.” In addition to supporting state legislation, members of the opposition group Friends of the Tensaw River are working to bring zoning regulations to northern Baldwin County — an effort that has faced resistance from landowners in the past. “There’s been a huge mindset shift in north Baldwin County,” said Fowler. “Ten years ago, the conversation was about barndominiums. Now, it’s about data centers and massive utility-scale solar sites. It’s a totally different ballgame.”The group has organized a public prayer gathering this Sunday at Live Oak Landing from 4 to 6 p.m. to raise awareness and encourage community involvement.It was an online ad that offered an opportunity for sex at a price.And it came with one, a costly price for those who engaged the ad, made a deal and showed upAccording to the Mobile Co. Sheriff's Office, on March 3, 2026, the MCSO ICAC Unit, along with MCSO Special Operations, executed a search warrant at Knollwood DIt was the final item on Monday night's Fairhope City Council agenda... the appointment of a new library board member... something that would hardly raise an eyThe entire NBC-15 area has been placed in a level 2 slight risk of severe storms, mainly for late tonight through the overnight. If we see severe weather, damagA major renovation is planned for a downtown Mobile motel. The Architectural Review Board approved design plans for the Budget Inn on Government Street. The 195
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