Solar, battery facility approved for Bullock, Macon counties

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – A huge solar power facility will be coming to Bullock and Macon counties in the coming years.

The Alabama Public Service Commission has unanimously approved the construction of what’s called Clearview Ranch. It will be an Alabama Power solar farm that will generate 200 megawatts of electricity on 1,400 acres.

In addition, the facility will be able to store 200 megawatts of power for two hours through a battery storage system to help during peak hours.

It’s scheduled to open in June of 2029.

Alabama Power says it will own and run the facility and that customer rates will not go up.

A subsidiary of Meta, called Dotier, LLC, will purchase the power for a 20-year period. Meta is the owner of Facebook, Instagram and other properties and is building a $1.5 billion data center across from the Hyundai automotive assembly plant in Montgomery.

Alabama Power says the project will generate $110 million in tax revenue over 20 years, with $56 million going to Bullock County over that period and $27 million to Macon County, according to the company.

The project will cover land that’s in both counties, but an exact address hasn’t been announced.

READ: Alabama Power releases information about Clearview Ranch

READ: Alabama Public Service Commission approves Clearview Ranch