Denton solar farm will help U.S. energy independence, local taxpayers
Surging oil and gas prices and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of democratic Ukraine have reminded us all of the vital importance of American energy independence.
My organization, Conservatives for Clean Energy, is glad to see projects proposed in Davidson County that will boost energy production and affordability in North Carolina without polluting the air we breathe or the water we drink, while adding to the local tax base.
For example, Cypress Creek Renewables, a North Carolina company, plans to build a $104 million solar facility on 450 acres south of Denton, as The Dispatch has reported. Once up and running, the 80-megawatt facility will generate enough clean energy, delivered via Duke Energy, to power about 16,000 homes. In response to feedback at a recent public open house, company officials plan to increase buffers and shift a planned substation farther from existing homes.
This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking energy investment that Davidson County, North Carolina and America need as we grow. The more energy we produce at home, the less we must import from unsavory regimes abroad. The more competition to produce homegrown energy, the better. And the greater and more efficient our energy supply, the lower the cost for consumers. These are all traditional, time-tested, conservative economic principles.
Building the solar farm will employ 187 workers with a payroll of $8.4 million, according to the company. The project also will be good for local taxpayers. Over its life it will generate an estimated $3.7 million in local property taxes for Davidson County, Denton, and two fire districts, helping to support public schools, public safety, and public water and sewer service.
We use energy all day every day. We need a strong and reliable energy supply at affordable prices, especially these days. Clean energy helps us get it without polluting the environment — conserving our natural resources while advancing economic growth and public health and safety.
We are pleased that the leaders of Davidson County and Denton have a well-timed opportunity to promote America’s energy independence and affordability while adding to the local tax base by supporting such much-needed projects.
Carson Butts is North Carolina state director of Conservatives for Clean Energy, which informs the public and decision-makers about the economic benefits of clean energy while advocating for clean-energy investments across the Southeast.
