Wind and Solar Public Hearing (Part 2) - Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Effingham County’s October 14, 2026 public hearing continued consideration of Mason Plains LLC’s special-use permit for a solar project. The applicant’s real-estate valuation witness, hired by Nexamp, testified that his review found no market evidence of negative effects on nearby property values; residents questioned the study’s methods, assumptions, and applicability to the rural area. The committee made no permit decision during this session, and the hearing was recessed to reconvene October 28, with a virtual appearance to be arranged for a witness unable to travel.

During questioning, the applicant agreed to several proposed conditions, including reimbursing necessary emergency-response costs; coordinating the emergency-response plan with the sheriff’s department, 911 board, and rural EMS; providing evidence of financial ability before a building permit; supplying a glare study and, if requested, a third-party noise study; and fully funding decommissioning before construction. The applicant also agreed to noise assessments at five-year intervals and to consider changes to vegetation screening. No contract award, procurement vote, or purchasing action was identified; the proceeding concerned land-use approval and project conditions.