BAY MINETTE — Silicon Ranch Corporation officials faced a mix of curiosity and criticism Wednesday night as they presented plans for their proposed solar farm in Stockton and answered questions from residents about environmental impacts, transparency and long-term community benefits.

The meeting marked the company’s first large-scale public forum on the project, bringing together executives, technical experts and Baldwin County residents for a presentation followed by an extended question-and-answer session.

The 4,500-acre site would see two large-scale solar farms developed near the intersection of Interstate 65 and Alabama Highway 59. Approved by the Alabama Public Service Commission in December, the developments are tied to Meta Platforms’ Montgomery data center through its subsidiary Dotier LLC. Together, the projects are expected to generate about 260 megawatts of power and are scheduled to be operational by the end of 2028. Silicon Ranch, the project developer, will construct the facilities and connect them to Alabama Power’s grid.

Reagan Farr, Silicon Ranch's co-founder and CEO, framed the project as part of the company’s broader focus on rural investment and long-term community partnerships.

“From the beginning, our business model is based on wanting long-term partners, and everywhere we put a project, we want that community to be better,” Farr said.

He said the Stockton site was chosen because of available transmission and growing energy demand.

“Alabama Power needs more electricity generation, and solar is the lowest cost, quickest way to build the form of new generation that we have in this country,” he said.

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

Farr described the local response as largely inquisitive and said the company hoped to address concerns directly.

“I would say people are more curious,” he said. “Everyone I’ve talked to has said they’ve looked forward to learning more about the project.”

When asked by GCM about a previous statement he made in a March interview with Fox 10, where he said, “I expect this when I’m in Berkeley, California. I don’t expect it in Alabama and I sure don’t expect it from Republicans… very anti-business… very anti individual rights and property rights,” Farr did not directly address whether expectations about local support influenced the company’s decision to select Stockton.

Community backlash to the project led to state Sen. Greg Albritton, R-22, who represents Bay Minette and unincorporated North Baldwin communities including Stocxkton, filing two bills. One would create a temporary pause on new solar farm projects, and the other would give certain county governments authority to regulate them.

The Senate passed SB 354, which would prohibit the construction and operation of new solar power facilities for one year, on April 7 by a 27-4 vote and did not progress before this year's legislative session ended. Baldwin County's three senators all voted in favor, with Sen. Chris Elliott, R-32, signing on as a sponsor. SB 358, which would allow county commissions bordering the Gulf to establish regulations related to the permitting, construction, placement or operation of solar farms, is indefinitely postponed in the Senate.

“We chose Stockton because there was transmission available… demand is growing in a meaningful way,” Farr told GCM. “You are going to see generation built everywhere there is available transmission… I was surprised to see the legislature moving in without a whole lot of diligence… it seemed very reactionary.”

He did not directly say whether the experience would change how Silicon Ranch approaches future site selections.Company officials also emphasized environmental planning, including the use of agrivoltaics — combining solar energy with agriculture and conservation.

Loran Schallenberger, vice president of regenerative energy and agrivoltaics at Silicon Ranch, said the company tailors each project to its specific site.

“Every project that we’re looking to bring online has a bespoke plan. No two projects are the same,” he said.

For Stockton, that includes pastureland for grazing and wildlife, along with preserved corridors across the property.

“It’s 2,500 acres of total corridor habitat that would be unimpacted,” Schallenberger said.

Despite those assurances, some residents remained skeptical, questioning both the environmental impact and the project’s benefits.

Jeff Ramsey, a Democratic candidate for the Alabama Public Service Commission in May’s primary election, criticized the project, arguing community input will not change the outcome.

“It sounds like it doesn’t matter what questions we ask — the project is going to go forward because y’all want to make money,” Ramsey said.

He also raised concerns about fencing and its effect on wildlife.

“You’re fencing more than 4,500 acres… You’re fencing off so nature can’t do what nature does,” he said.

Other residents focused on long-term impacts.

Scarlet Carlisle, a Saraland resident and property owner in Stockton, questioned how the land would be affected over time and what the community would gain.

“It’s a large amount of wildlife, and they’re going to have to have a completely new way of life,” Carlisle said. “This is a generational thing… how are you to ensure that this land is going to be viable after that time’s up?”

Farr said the company remains committed to the project and continued engagement with the community.

“We have a commitment… and we’re confident that we’re going to be able to advance the project,” he 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.