Two bills introduced by state Sen. Greg Albritton could impact how solar power facilities are developed in Alabama.

Senate Bill 354 and Senate Bill 358, both sponsored by Albritton, R-Atmore, address solar development in different ways — one creating a temporary pause on new projects and the other giving certain county governments authority to regulate them.

SB 354 would establish a one-year moratorium on the construction and operation of new solar power facilities. The bill has passed out of committee and will now move to the Alabama Senate for a vote.

Albritton said the bill is not intended to block solar energy development.

"Earlier on, it was said that these bills were designed to block solar farms or solar production or solar energy. These do not block it. Neither one does," Albritton said.

He said the moratorium is meant to give lawmakers, residents and investors time to review the process and address concerns.

"It simply gives the state and the other parties, meaning the residents and the investor, an opportunity to hear one another out," he said.

Albritton added that the proposed moratorium would not affect facilities already operating or under construction.

The second measure, SB 358, is still pending committee action. The bill would allow county commissions that border the Gulf to establish regulations related to the permitting, construction, placement or operation of solar farms. It would also create penalties for violations and establish an appeal process.

Albritton said the legislation was partly inspired by a previous law allowing Baldwin County to regulate wind energy projects.

"In 2013, we passed a local bill giving Baldwin County the authority to regulate, in some fashions, windmill farms," he said. "I've taken that and tried to emulate that."

The bills come as residents in the Stockton area have raised concerns about a proposed solar farm project near the community. Some residents worry about potential environmental impacts and long-term effects on land near the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

The 4,500-acre site is privately owned in a planning district that is unzoned, which means the county has limited control over land use.

Albritton, whose District 22 covers Bay Minette and unincorporated communities in North Baldwin County including Stockton, said those concerns helped drive the legislation.

"My concern is making sure that all the questions are answered," he said.

Meagan Fowler, president of Friends of the Tensaw River, said the group supports efforts to address those concerns.

"We are grateful to know that Sen. Albritton is paying attention to our plight in Baldwin County," Fowler said. "We're grateful that he's heard our concerns and wants a law to go into effect so that we can figure this out in Baldwin County."

Fowler said she hopes the legislation moves forward before the end of the legislative session.

"I spoke with Sen. Albritton and feel optimistic that this has a fighting chance," she said.

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.