Residents Question New Solar Farms

 Residents Question New Solar Farms

BOBBY ARDOIN

St. New.com Editor

Several residents living in a rural area near Sunset are questioning the St. Landry Parish Council about the proposed location of a solar panel farm project.

The issue of creating another solar project in the parish was presented to council members Wednesday night during the start of a Public Works Committee meeting.

Committee members took no action on the matter following 40 minutes of discussion, which included several presentations from speakers, who said they have signed petitions from 200 residents opposing placing solar panels on 87 acres of land located off La. 754 and Hypolite Road.

According to a letter addressed to Curley Road resident Quinn Heber, who spoke to the Council about the solar farm issue, Bombus Solar LLC, intends to apply for a parish permit in order to design, construct and operate a new project.

Bombus, the letter also indicates, is an LLC directly owned by Birch Creek Development LLC and if approved by the Council, will be placed on land owned by Honey Bee Property LLC, located off Hypolite Road south of the Chretien Road (La. 754).

Honey Bee Property has entered into a lease agreement with Bombas Property for use of the land where the proposed solar farm will be located, the letter says.

If the project is completed, the solar farm is expected to provide electricity for about 3,000 homes through an interconnectivity agreement with Entergy Louisiana, the letter shows..

The Council has already approved three solar farm projects that are impacting the Plaisance, Port Barre areas and northwest corners of St. Landry.

No members representing the company or development spoke at the meeting.

However Hebert told the Council that company officials hosted a public meeting Monday night at the Opelousas Indian Hills Country Club regarding the solar proposal for Hypolite Road.

Hebert said he learned about the meeting last Thursday.

Several council members noted that they had not been informed about the Country Club meeting, but after a show of hands, council members Ernie Blanchard, Faltery Jolivette and chairman Jody White indicated they knew about the meeting at the Country Club which is owned by the parish.

St. Landry Now was not notified of the community meeting held at the Country Club.

Luke Morgan and Andrew Morgan, who also spoke about the implications the project could have on adjacent residents, spoke about the issue of locating solar panels on agricultural land..

White told Hebert that the impact of the signatures might be considered if the Council makes a final decision on the project, but White added that the Council is also aware of the possible economic effect a solar farm would bring to St. Landry.

“The Council will have to decide what a solar farm brings to this parish and should we decide against it because 200 people are concerned. It’s a legitimate question, but is it in the best interest of this parish? White pointed out.

Parish president Jessie Bellard and several council members pointed out there is no parish zoning, except for certain economic areas in St. Landry.

Council attorney Garret Duplechain said the parish does have a land use ordinance.

The letter addressed to Hebert also shows that Bombus submitted an application letter to the parish planning and development department on July 11 and that letter is currently being reviewed by parish officials.

Bellard said the application process is just in its infancy and won’t be decided until probably sometime in 2026.