YAMHILL CO., Ore. (KOIN) — Some Yamhill County residents are trying to stop a California company from building 2 solar farms near McMinnville and Sheridan.
Cypress Creek Renewables tells KOIN 6 News its solar projects will supply enough energy to power 500-600 homes. Even though the company says the energy will be used locally, some of those who live nearby say they don’t buy the promise.
“This is high-value farmland, it’s agricultural land,” Jalena Juarez said. “In giving permission for this conditional use permit, it’s turning it into an industrial site.”
Juarez says a solar farm in the area would have an impact on property values.
In an email, local real estate broker Beth Jacobsen said 3 of her clients recently received letters from Cypress Creek asking to lease their property for solar farms.
“We are being blasted and invaded by a California company with no regard for our precious asset — prime agriculture land,” Jacobsen wrote. “Cyprus Creek… is earning big bucks through the government to find ‘clean’ energy. But is putting solar farms in rainy Yamhill County on productive farmland the best way to find clean energy?”
Yamhill County Planning Commissioners voted 4-5 in favor of the solar farms.
The county’s Planning Division Manager Ken Friday says Juarez and any other residents opposed to the solar farms have until July 25 to submit an appeal.
If everything goes according to plan, Cypress Creek Renewables plans to start construction on the 2 solar farms at the beginning of 2017.
