LUMBERTON — The Robeson County Board of Commissioners will try for the fourth time Monday to decide if conditional-use permits should be granted that will allow for the construction of two solar farms.
The commissioners decided on Oct. 5 to continue the two hearings after several people living near the proposed solar farm sites raised concerns about the health effects of solar panels and electricity generating equipment, the effect on nearby property values, and the appearance the farms would have in their communities.
Entropy Solar Integrators has proposed establishing a solar farm on 31.30 acres of a 275-acre tract in Wakulla near the intersection of N.C. 71 and Oxendine School Road. The property is owned by Wakulla Solar Farms LLC.
The second solar farm is proposed by Innovative Solar 55 LLC for 40 acres of a 54.37-acre tract on St. Anna Road in Pembroke.
Commissioner Raymond Cummings made the motion that both of the hearings be continued, citing the need for the developers to provide more information to satisfy community concerns.
Solar farms have been cropping up across Robeson County as companies take advantage of the low land prices, flat rock-free land and electrical infrastructure.
According to Dixon Ivey Jr, Planning and Zoning administrator for Robeson County, there are 23 solar installations operating in Robeson. From 2007 to 2014, there was more than $170 million invested in solar farms in Robeson County, according to North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association report. North Carolina is among the leaders in the nation in solar installations.
In other business, the commissioners will:
— Consider a conditional-use permit from Ajax Solar LLC that would allow for the establishment of a solar farm on 20.67 acres in Shannon.
— Hold public hearings on three requests that would provide for the rezoning of properties in Back Swamp and Rennert from Heavy Industrial to Agricultural.
— Convene as the board of directors of the Robeson County Housing Authority.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the commissioners room of the county administration building on North Elm Street in Lumberton.
