Exceptions Made to Solar Shutdown

Hardeman County Zoning Director Jim Pierce advised the County Commission on March 21 to vote yes on two resolutions that would lift the moratorium on solar farms in the county for two companies and two specific projects, but leave it in place otherwise.

Almost three hours later, which included a public hearing on the issue, the commission did just that.

One resolution addressed the facility in Hickory Valley that had already been given the go-ahead by the planning commission. Pierce said it wasn’t necessary to pass the resolution, but the commission obliged anyway, with a 10-5 vote.

The other involves Silicon Ranch, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, and Bolivar Energy Authority to combine to put $50 million dollars into a project that would include building a $2.5 million substation near Peavine Road.

Championed by Bolivar Energy Authority’s Tony Kirk, City of Bolivar Mayor Julian McTizic, and others, the commission passed the exception to the moratorium with an 11-4 vote. Voting against overriding the moratorium were commissioners Johnny Weems, David Bell, Mark Gilliam, and Jeff Kennamore.

The other two resolutions, which Pierce said were too vague in their language, failed by 15-0 margins.

In January of 2023, the Hardeman County Commission voted to place a one-year moratorium on solar farms in Hardeman County.

Also on March 21, the completed solar project was officially opened at Silicon Ranch’s “Flip The Switch” event at Hardeman County’s Solar facility on Mecklinburg Road. Kirk said the facility that went online in December of 2022, helped keep the rolling blackouts to a minimum during the ice storms that hit Hardeman County that month.