JACKSON, Miss. – Hinds County will soon have the largest solar farm in Mississippi. The Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to approve the Soul City Solar project. Earlier, the county’s planning board had unanimously denied it.
District 1 Supervisor Robert Graham, District 2 Supervisor Tony Smith, and District 4 Supervisor Wanda Evers supported the project. District 3 Supervisor Deborah Butler-Dixon and District 5 Supervisor Bobby McGowan opposed it.
Dozens of protestors camped outside the Hinds County courthouse early Monday morning. They later filed into the supervisors’ chambers. They expressed concerns about chemicals from the solar farm invading neighboring properties and disrupting the natural landscape.
An online petition against the project attracted nearly 800 signatures. Allison Lauderdale of Raymond wrote, “While we support the transition to renewable energy sources and recognize the importance of sustainable development, we believe that the installation of large-scale solar farms in our community will have several adverse effects that must be carefully considered.” She listed visual and aesthetic concerns, agricultural land use, property values, and more.
Solar installations are not new to Mississippi. Earlier this year, Mississippi State University announced its plan to be carbon neutral by 2042. The campus will install 3,420 solar panels and expects to start generating power by this summer.
The project, planned for some time, will place a new solar farm between Bolton and Raymond. It is expected to generate enough energy to power over 95,000 homes per year, according to Apex Clean Energy of Charlottesville, Virginia, the company developing the site.
Soul City Solar
Called “Soul City Solar,” referring to Jackson, the company claims the project will boost Hinds County’s economy. It promises up to $150 million in long-term tax revenue for local schools and county services.
“The power from Soul City Solar will be delivered into the local Mississippi electrical grid, helping to diversify the state’s energy portfolio,” the company states on its project website. “Solar power is one of the most cost-effective sources of electricity available today. Its ability to generate power at peak times helps reduce electricity costs for all consumers.”
The company plans to start construction this year. Meanwhile, area property owners have reportedly already agreed to terms. Additionally, up to 400 workers are expected to be employed during the construction process.
A Cautious Future
In the future, the new Public Service Commission may address this project. After the county’s vote, Central District Public Service Commissioner DeKeither Stamps (D) was cautious in his comments.
“We need to be prudent in every type of power generation that we put in place,” Stamps told Magnolia Tribune on Monday. He took office in January.
His predecessor, former Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey, took a campaign donation from Apex Clean Energy during his re-election bid last year. Specifically, Bailey, a Republican who lost to Stamps, received $1,000 from Apex Clean Energy Holdings, LLC in March 2023.
Another former Public Service Commissioner, Brandon Presley, the former Northern District Commissioner who ran unsuccessfully for Governor as the Democratic nominee in 2023, received $1,000 from the Apex Clean Energy, Inc PAC in February 2020.
However, neither Stamps nor the other two new PSC Commissioners, Chris Brown and Wayne Carr, are listed as having received donations from the company.
Furthermore, county-level campaign finance reports were not immediately available for review.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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