Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 8287 |
| Work Detail | Two companies are seeking to build solar farms in and near the Swansboro community. Badger Farm LLC has filed a petition with the N.C. Utilities Commission to obtain a a certificate of need and necessity to build a solar farm on the east side of Belgrade-Swansboro Road, south of its intersection with Hadley Collins Road in the White Oak Township. Olympus Solar of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., is seeking the same certificate for a site off Hampshire Lane, easterly off Belgrade-Swansboro Road. The address is listed as being in Maysville. Badger Farm LLC, is seeking a certificate of public convenience and necessity, which is now out for comment through the N.C. Public Staff, for construction of a solar farm with approximately 63,000 photovoltaic modules, attached to ground-mounted racks supported by driven piles, with a maximum gross power capacity of 5 megawatts. According to the company’s filing with the commission, the facility is projected to come on line in September 2017, with the power generated to be sold to Duke Energy Progress under a 15-year power purchase agreement. The projected cost of the facility is $14 million, according to the filing. Badger Farm LLC was formed July 20, 2016. Jackson Naftel is listed on the commission filing as duly authorized to act as a corporate agent for the firm. Naftel is listed as working for Strata Solar LLC of Chapel Hill. Maggie May Armstrong, public relations and marketing manager for Strata, said the September 2017 online date listed in the filing is extremely optimistic, and unlikely, as projects often take two years to complete. Strata Solar’s website says it is a “turnkey solar provider … with over 840 megawatts installed and more than a gigawatt under development,” and says the company is among the top 10 solar providers in America. The applicant anticipates needing a soil and erosion control permit from the state, but has no potable water needs. Strata Solar has projects all over North Carolina, from Yanceyville in the mountains to Williamston in the east, including one in the New Bern area and another in Kinston. The latter, known as Kinston Davis, that has more than 22,000 solar nodules and clean electricity in Lenoir County equivalent to the power used by more than 777 homes and has an operating life of more than 30 years. The current owners of the Belgrade-Swansboro Road property are listed as Gerald Thomas Williams, Hilda Jean Ritchie, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wayne; Badger states that it has a lease agreement. Strata’s website states that the company “builds all of its projects with a focus on the three pillars of sustainable business: social, fiscal, and environmental sustainability.” Olympus Solar would use 22,330 solar modules for its 5-megawatt facility, and states that it hopes it will come on line, also selling to Duke Energy, by October 2017. The filing lists the project cost at $9.4 million. Jennifer Holland of the Onslow County Planning Department said she was unaware of the Badger Farm LLC proposal, but knew of the Olympus filing. She said the properties are zoned Rural-Agriculture, and the solar farm would be allowed only as a special-use, The developers would have to apply to the county for a special-use permit, which would necessitate a public hearing. The public notice of the Badger Farm proposals will run through Sept. 12. After that date, if a complaint is received about the proposal within 10 days, the utilities panel will hold a public haring to determine whether the certificate should be issued. If there are no complaints filed, the commission will enter an order awarding the certificate. To comment, refer to Docket No. SP-8230 Sub O and address the comments to Chief Clerk, N.C. Utilities Commission, 4325 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4330. The last advertising date for the Olympus proposal was listed as Aug. 27 on the utilities commission website, so the 10-day period has passed. However, the utilities commission file does not say a certificate of need and necessity has been issued. The docket number, which provides access to information about the project and its utilities commission status, is SP-7923, Sub 0. It does not show a date for a public hearing. The Badger Farm LLC proposal has not yet gone through the “clearinghouse” review, in which state and federal agencies are asked to comment officially on a project as proposed. However, the Olympus proposal has generated several concerns from agencies through that process. For example, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services states that it “has the potential to negatively impact the agricultural/environmental economic balance” in the area, and that “far too much productive farm land has been, and continues to be, lost to development of various types in North Carolina.” Also, the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources states that, “there are records for rare species, important natural communities, natural areas or conservation/managed areas within the proposed project boundary,” and also notes that there are “previously recorded archaeological sites” on the property, as well as other potential sites that have not been “systematically surveyed.” The agency recommends an “intensive” archeological survey” because of the “high probability of additional prehistoric Native American sites.” |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Energy & Power |
| Entry Date | 15 Oct 2016 |
| Source | http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/tideland_news/news/article_43e1fe94-74f9-11e6-a8e7-ebf8669df315.html |
