*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
Read About DeSoto Solar Farm
From Silicon Ranch
Press Coverage
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Big business wants solar energy can Georgia utilities keep up
- GeorgiaTrend: Southwest Georgia: Energizing Rural Communities
- GeorgiaTrend: Solar Industry Shining in Georgia
- Connections Magazine: The Buzz on Sustainability: Silicon Ranch’s DeSoto Solar Farm and its Impact on Our Ecosystem