The proposed location for a solar farm in Fayette County remains in debate
Originally published by WEKU.
Decisions about two utility-sought solar farms in Kentucky are now in the hands of Kentucky Public Service Commission members. One proposal is attracting differing views based on its suggested location.
The PSC is considering East Kentucky Power’s request to construct a solar farm on 388 acres in Fayette County. During last week’s hearing, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton voiced opposition to the site. Instead of set on agricultural benefitting soil, Gorton would like to see the farm somewhere else.
“We are under the process right now of seeing whether our Haley Pike landfill, which is closed, is capable of holding solar,” said Gorton.
Mayor Gorton said Fayette County receives no direct economic benefit, like additional jobs, from the proposed project. The mayor also pointed to solar projects in other parts of the world where panels are placed above surface parking lots.
East Kentucky Power’s Nick Comer said the proposed solar farm would be built near an existing substation, making it easily connected to the power grid. Comer said there would be minimal grading with soil kept onsite.
“The location of the Fayette County solar facility that EKPC has proposed is a big part of the cost-effectiveness is that it’s adjacent to that substation,” said Comer.
After its use in gathering solar energy, Comer said the area could be returned to ag purposes. He noted the life expectancy of such a solar-paneled farm is 20 to 30 years. Comer said the solar farm falls in line with East Kentucky Power Cooperative’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 35% by 2035.
The PSC case also includes plans for a separate solar farm, almost twice the size of Fayette’s, in Marion County.
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Originally published by WEKU.
Republished with permission.
