Another in a line of solar projects near the Withlacoochee River is being heard right now by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Zoning Board of Appeals.

Context Map
Source: WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail Map.

You can see the Beltline Energy Solar Project towards the bottom of this map, north of US 84 (labeled US 221), and just east of Spring Branch, which runs northwards by the Kinderlou Subdivision to the Withlacoochee River.

North of this proposed solar project are solar panels on Valdosta’s new Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), on the privatized Veolia Pecan Row Landfill, and on the old, closed WWTP.

Even farther north, towards the top right corner, is Valdosta’s Val Tech Road Solar project on another old closed landfill, right across Val Tech road from Valdosta State Prison.

And just south of GA-133 is the Troupville Boat Ramp, and just south of that between the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers is the Land Between the Rivers site of the Troupville River Camp.

While that new proposed solar farm is in a pretty good location relative to various streams, it’s before ZBOA today for a variance, because it wants to cut down pecan trees and it doesn’t want to put up a proper height vegetative buffer. Sure, buffer trees can shade solar panels, but surely they can find some that don’t grow too tall that are not invasive exotic species. Or they should have thought to get a big enough plot of land to allow for that.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Short Link: