The Liberty County Development Authority is working on a deal that could bring a power generating solar farm to the Midway Industrial Park. The LCDA Monday authorized its chairman, Allen Brown, to sign an option agreement allowing the solar power developer up to a year to study the project’s feasibility.
If negotiations are successful, the solar farm would be located on a vacant 25-acre tract known as Phase III of the Midway Industrial Park. The park is almost completely built out with five existing industries except for the small irregularly shaped parcel that has not drawn any interest in more than 20 years, officials say.
Elan Technology, Hugo Boss, International Greetings, SNF Floquip and Truss Mart are in the Midway park now.
The details of the proposed solar farm were not reported.
Also Monday the development authority tried yet again to approve plans by Arconic Forgings and Extrusions to temporarily locate two modular buildings at its plant in Tradeport East. One trailer is needed for sales and one for employee workspace.
The Midway Arconic plant, formerly known as Firth Rixson and Alcoa Forgings opened on 2011 and has continually expanded. It now employs almost 300 people.
On Nov. 14 the authority unanimously approved a detailed plan for the structures submitted by Arconic, but on Nov. 17 Arconic sent yet another plan for the two trailers. This one was the “final locked in request,” Arconic said, and the authority duly approved it unanimously on Monday.
A proposal from Thomas and Hutton, a Savannah engineering firm, was approved; the project is for rough grading of a 16-acre site at Dunwoody Court at the rear of the LCDA’s Tradeport East. The site is a desirable one and LCDA Executive Director Ron Tolley said it needed the grading to help Liberty compete with other counties offering industrial sites. After the work, Tolley said, “You’ll be able to actually see the site, not just a bunch of trees.”
Authority members heard a financial report from Kay Proctor of the Lanier, Deal and Proctor CPA firm. LCDA has about $5 million available in unassigned funds, she said. “It’s a good, strong, healthy balance.”
The authority plans a meeting at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 18 when the annual audit will be presented.
Solar farm at Midway industrial park?
