Jun. 17, 2024 16:20 PM EST

Supervisors Vote To Allow Solar Panel Farm In Central Mississippi Over Residents' Objections

Chris Hawk, development manager with Apex Clean Energy, tells the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, that their Soul City Solar Project would generate enough electricity to power about 95,000 homes and provide huge economic opportunity for the county in the form of new jobs and tax revenue, during their meeting Monday, June 17, 2024, in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Rogelio V. Solis, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chris Hawk, development manager with Apex Clean Energy, tells the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, that their Soul City Solar Project would generate enough electricity to power about 95,000 homes and provide huge economic opportunity for the county in the form of new jobs and tax revenue, during their meeting Monday, June 17, 2024, in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Paulette Robinson, a Hinds County resident, speaks against what could become the state's largest solar energy project if placed in a rural portion of Hinds County, while at the county's supervisors meeting Monday, June 17, 2024, in Jackson, Miss. After hearing open public comments, the board voted to approve the project. Opponents had expressed concerns about how the solar panels might affect wildlife, nature and property values while the project's proponents, Apex Clean Energy, believes their project would generate enough electricity to power about 95,000 homes and provide huge economic opportunity for the county in the form of new jobs and tax revenue. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Proponents and opponents of what could become the state's largest solar energy project in a rural portion of Hinds County, attend the county's supervisors meeting Monday, June 17, 2024, in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Cristie Ware of Bolton, Miss., right, express her disappointment with the Hinds County Board of Supervisors approving what could become the state's largest solar energy project, over their objections, Monday, June 17, 2024, in Jackson, Miss. Residents of the communities of Raymond and Bolton attended the meeting and expressed concerns about how the solar panels might affect wildlife, nature and property values while the project's proponents, Apex Clean Energy, said their Soul City Solar would generate enough electricity to power about 95,000 homes and provide huge economic opportunity for the county in the form of new jobs and tax revenue. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Residents of rural Hinds County, Miss., express their disappointment with the county's Board of Supervisors approving what could become the state's largest solar energy project, over their objections, Monday, June 17, 2024, in Jackson, Miss. Residents of the communities of Raymond and Bolton expressed concerns about how the solar panels might affect wildlife, nature and property values while the project's proponents, Apex Clean Energy, said their Soul City Solar project would generate enough electricity to power about 95,000 homes and provide huge economic opportunity for the county in the form of new jobs and tax revenue. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — What could become Mississippi's largest solar energy project was approved by a county board Monday over objections from people who live near the proposed site.

Hinds County supervisors voted 3-2 in favor of a conditional use permit for the Soul City Solar project, which would be developed near the Jackson suburbs of Raymond and Bolton.

The company behind the project, Apex Clean Energy, is based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Apex says on its website that Soul City Solar would generate enough electricity to power about 95,000 homes.

County officials said they expect the solar farm to be in operation by the end of 2027.

Some residents of Raymond and Bolton expressed concerns about how the solar panels will affect wildlife, nature and property values.

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