A Florida company is proposing a solar farm project for Forsyth County. This would be the second solar project and comes as North Carolina utilities are trying to get more of their energy from renewable sources.

Florida company Pine Gate Holdings filed a request last month with the North Carolina Utilities Commission to build what will be known as Germanton Solar.

The Winston Salem Journal reports that the cost of the project is $13 million. The developer said it plans to sell the power generated to Duke Energy.  This comes as North Carolina is requiring public utilities to have 6 percent of its retail sales come from renewable energy and energy-efficient sources by 2015. That's up from 3 percent now. That requirement jumps to 12.5 percent in 2021.   

In February, Forsyth County commissioners approved the regulations for solar farms. Pine Gate says it will comply with the county's requests.   The solar farm is projected to become operational in December 2015.  

The county's first solar farm was approved in June for the Hobby Park area near Clemmonsville Road.  It could generate $20,000 in property taxes annually.  Planning for the new farm is in the early stages and too early for such estimates.     


 

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