By Erin Smith
A Community meeting scheduled for tonight (Wednesday, April 11) to discuss a proposed solar farm in the East Hills subdivision has been postponed until sometime this summer, according to officials with Cypress Creek Renewables.
In a written statement regarding the postponement, Ally Copple, the Senior Manager of Public Affairs for Cypress Creek Renewables, said, “In the meantime, we will do more diligence with the town on siting for the project. Cypress Creek values community feedback and is committed to continuing to work with officials in Elizabethtown. From development to construction to operation, we strive to be good neighbors and create projects that will benefit communities for decades.”
Copple said the change in meeting date is needed to give company officials more time to work on the project and to learn more about the town’s requirements.
The company initial mailed out 60 letters to residents who own property within approximately 250 feet of the proposed solar farm on March 27, 2018 announcing the meeting, according to Copple. The goal of the community meeting is to inform the landowners regarding the project.
The proposed project is planned for a 36 acre tract located at 204 Eastway Avenue in Elizabethtown. If the project is constructed, it will generate approximately 5 megawatts of electricity.
Copple also included information about Cypress Creek Renewables:
*Our company’s largest office is in Durham, NC in the Research Triangle Park
*Cypress Creek is committed to Bladen County and the Cape Fear region.
*Cypress Creek has invested more than $150 million in solar projects in Bladen County. In 2017, Cypress Creek paid more than $130,000 in taxes to the Bladen County general fund. This money goes to services including public schools and human services.
*On March 27, we announced our first workforce development partnership in North Carolina with Cape Fear Community College in New Hanover County. Our aim with the workforce development initiative is to strengthen the U.S. solar energy workforce through proactive investment in job training and workforce development. As a part of the partnership, we provided a $16,500 grant by Cypress Creek that will support students and instructors in Cape Fear Community College’s Sustainability Technologies program.
About Author
