Huge McDavid Solar Farm Set For Development Review Committee Approval

August 27, 2019

The Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) is set to review the final DRC application for a huge solar farm project in McDavid on Wednesday.

At 74.2 megawatts, the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center will generate enough electricity to power 15,000 homes annual, according to Gulf Power. By comparison, Gulf Power’s largest solar field at Saufley Field is 50 megawatts, enough to power almost 7,400 homes.

NorthEscambia.com was first to report last December that facility was planned for West Bogia Road. At that time, it was dubbed the “Escambia County Solar Energy Center” on 541 acres. Now, documents filed with Escambia County are calling the project the Gulf Power Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center on about 640 acres. Only 353.18 acres will be disturbed.

The development is planned for an area north of West Bogia Road between South Pine Barren Road and Highway 29, just west of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.

There are currently no homes on the project property.

No water or sewer infrastructure will be necessary to serve the development, and no habitable space will be constructed. The facility will be monitored remotely and will not require onsite personnel for day-to-day operation, but personnel will occasionally visit the site to conduct required maintenance activities, according to previously filed documents.

Once the project makes it through the permitting process, it is expected to create 200-250 jobs during peak construction.

Comments

6 Responses to “Huge McDavid Solar Farm Set For Development Review Committee Approval”

  1. Dorothy anglin on December 28th, 2019 5:08 pm

    When are y’all gonna hire for this job

  2. David Huie Green on August 30th, 2019 1:20 pm

    CONTEMPLATING:
    As the lenses get dirty they have to be cleaned or they lose their efficiency.”

    Lenses?

    We don’t really need to know all that even though it might be interesting. It is unlikely potential investors haven’t looked into it.

    What should be of concern to us is whether or not it would adversely affect others.

    David for pertinent questions
    and honest answers

  3. Elijah on August 29th, 2019 6:50 am

    Tommy is right. Lots of questions to be answered. Return on investment is very important. Who stands to make a profit? Always follow the money.No water or sewer needed is very questionable. As the lenses get dirty they have to be cleaned or they lose their efficiency. How will they be cleaned? How many workers will be needed to maintain such a huge project? Will the tax payers be on the hook? Is there any insurance purchased to protect any investment?

  4. TOMMY on August 28th, 2019 9:43 am

    What is the cost ? Did we already purchase the land? how much? How much will that many Solar Panels cost ? Does that include installation? To give you an idea 15000 homes with an average of $200.00 per month power bills would be $3 million per month that they can now charge extra for.
    How long will it take to pay off the initial investment to get it up and running?

  5. Woody on August 28th, 2019 7:19 am

    I have worked the Saufley Field, Holley Navarre, and Elgin Air Force base sites, and many across the states. They are a very exciting and neat to see how they are done. As far as the wildlife we had 2 black bears in Holley Navarre while we were prepping the land, and yes there will be a fence in place to protect the Solar Equipment from bigger game wildlife, Deer Etc.

  6. DP on August 27th, 2019 9:14 am

    Security fence. There was a lot of discussion about conservation, wildlife etc..They need to define security fence.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News