DeSoto Solar Farm

*Photos of Sheep by Lesley Barbosa, Director of Operations for the Lee County Chamber of Commerce

Summary

The DeSoto Solar Farm in Lee County, Georgia, was built in three phases that together have a combined generation capacity of 250 MWAC, enough electricity to power more than 40,000 Georgia homes annually. At this farm, Silicon Ranch marries electricity generation and regenerative agriculture infrastructure and practices to produce two crops on one piece of land – renewable solar energy and pasture-raised lamb. We call this holistic approach to solar farm design, construction, and operations Regenerative Energy®. Silicon Ranch’s in-house shepherds manage the farm’s large resident flock of sheep intentionally to restore approximately 1,200 acres of land to a functioning grassland ecosystem, improving soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.

“Sunny Honey” at the DeSoto Solar Farm

Through our work, we’ve learned that nature often bestows unexpected gifts when we respect and accommodate natural systems and cycles. Our neighbor in Lee County, Georgia, Roger Howell, produces honey in the beehives he keeps on our DeSoto Solar Farm and on neighboring property. In addition to producing honey, his bees play a vital role in the local ecosystem by improving the pollination services on and around the farm and in adjacent agricultural fields. This leads to fertilization and successful seed and fruit production for plants. The connection between the bees and the solar farm is a compelling example of how renewable energy can coexist with, and even enhance, the natural world. Moreover, it reminds us that neighbors coming together to support one another’s passions produces beautiful results.

Phases I, II, and III

Silicon Ranch built and now owns and operates Phases I and III of DeSoto Solar Farm on behalf of our partners Walton EMC and Meta to support Walton EMC’s commitment to providing Meta with 100% renewable energy for their operations in Georgia.

Phase II of the DeSoto Solar Farm was built and is owned and operated by Silicon Ranch on behalf of our partners at Green Power EMC (GPEMC) to contribute to GPEMC’s expanding portfolio of renewable energy projects across Georgia. The project supplies GPEMC’s members’ communities with reliable and cost-effective clean energy for a stronger more resilient energy grid.

In the Community

Silicon Ranch received the Lee County, Georgia Chamber of Commerce 2024 Partner in Agriculture Award in recognition of our leading work at DeSoto Solar Farm. Silicon Ranch is also an annual sponsor of the Lee County Education Foundation and proudly joins local officials and educators to announce the REACH Scholarship recipients at their annual signing ceremony.

Facts & Figures

250 MWac

Locally Produced Renewable Energy Capacity

42,000

Homes this Project can Power Annually

1,200

Acres of Land Regeneratively Grazed to Restore Soil Health and Support the Agricultural Economy

$380,000,000

Capital Investment for Local Economic Growth

$25,000,000

New Tax Revenues over 40 Years to Fund Local Priorities

900

Jobs Created

What Our Stakeholders Are Saying

“As we continue to support our global operations with 100% renewable energy, we are pleased to expand our partnership with Silicon Ranch, a trusted partner who shares our commitment to have a positive impact on the communities where we locate.”
Urvi Parekh, Meta Head of Global Energy
“As an electric cooperative, Walton EMC is driven by our ‘concern for community’ and our devotion to serving the needs of our member-owners, and our partnership with Meta and Silicon Ranch enables us to honor our commitments to these principles and values.”
Ronnie Lee, Former Walton EMC CEO
“This Project not only provides significant tax revenues for the county government and school system but also sends a clear signal that Lee County is a great place for business and that we have the infrastructure in place to support meaningful economic development activity."
Billy Mathis, Lee County Board of Commissioners Chairman
“Silicon Ranch is honored by the confidence and trust that Meta continues to place in our company to execute on their behalf, and we are grateful to be part of this compelling economic development story with them as well as with our utility partners Walton EMC and TVA. Meta’s commitment to support their operations with 100% renewable energy is directly responsible for our own commitment to invest more than $2.3 billion across more than a dozen rural communities in Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. As a company that calls this region home, we look forward to being active members of each community for decades to come.”
Reagan Farr, Silicon Ranch Co-founder and CEO