‘This is our livelihood’: Farmers leasing land to solar project speak up

DIXON - The proposed South Dixon Solar development across 3,800 acres is nearing the end of a monthlong zoning hearing process.

South Dixon Solar LLC, of Duke Energy, petitioned the county in 2020 for a special-use permit to build a utility grade solar farm, but the Lee County Board ultimately voted down the proposal in February with an 18-4 vote after concerns that not all surrounding neighbors were properly notified by mail of the project.

The company is re-petitioning the county, and there have been several meetings during the quasi-judicial hearing process where testimony, evidence and public comment is presented to the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals.

The board finished hearing public comment this week, which included two residents who live next to the proposed project’s footprint speaking against the solar farm and two participating land owners showing their support.

Resident Charlie Fitts said he doesn’t understand why the solar farm is being built on prime farmland, and said it would be better suited somewhere where things don’t grow.

Resident Kristi Reiss said she was saddened by the public’s seeming lack of interest in the project, saying that people don’t understand what kind of affect it will have. An 8-foot fence isn’t going to hide the massive expanse of solar panels, she added.

The $450 million project is estimated to generate enough energy to power about 100,000 homes, would be built across 3,838 acres of property leased from 25 landowners and is estimated to bring in about $59 million in property taxes across the 40-year lifespan of the project, Duke Business Development Director Jeff Neves said.

Diana Westart, one of the participating landowners, said she and her brother, Lee County Board member Jim Schielein, have lived and farmed their land for 36 years, and the project will allow their farmland to rest for future generations.

“This is our love; this is our livelihood,” she said.

Participating landowner Peter Nichols said he and his family have owned several parcels in the project footprint for 70 years. He said the solar farm will help improve the soil quality, and the company is offering a generous revenue stream for landowners.

The hearing process included six meetings totaling around 13 hours with nine witnesses providing testimony as well as more than a dozen people making public comments.

The Zoning Board began compiling its findings of fact documentation for the project and will continue Tuesday. The board will then make a recommendation that will go to the County Board for a final vote.