Owl's Head

I still remember the first time I drove past w/ Mama Scooterbug. She read the sign and said "Coastal village, where's the coast?"

I told her it was the one 20 miles back and it devolved into yet another explanation of Florida real estate development vs. logic. :roll:

OK, so now I gotta ask. Will this become the property where the new solar farm is in the planning stages up that way? Maybe the whole thing did get bought back up....

OK, so now I gotta ask. Will this become the property where the new solar farm is in the planning stages up that way? Maybe the whole thing did get bought back up....

I havn't heard of such a project. Any additional info?

There was an article in the local news a few months ago about a huge solar farm getting started up. Shelton Stone was directing the effort. "Undisclosed location in Walton County". Owl's Head was an 800 acre development.

Here's a clip I googled:
You get the feeling that the energy in the room generated by business partners Shelton Stone and James Sumpter could power more than a few American homes.

As the two discuss details for their planned 74 -megawatt solar facility breaking ground soon in Walton County, you are struck by the fact that their timing couldn't be better.

"All the auto companies are running away from petrochemical-fuled cars as fast as they can," Stone said. "We aren't competing with existing utility companies. We see an increase in demand for electric power for cars, homes, and everything else and we hope to provide some of that energy for a future that is coming fast."

Sumpter and Stone's solar startup, Energy Farm, Inc., has already started researching locations in Nevada, New Mexico, and California, and abroad in India and other international locations for future expansion.

But for now, Stone and Sumpter, along with their investors, will start with a facility on 550 acres at an undisclosed Walton County location to be revealed in about 45 days when all the details are finalized. The "energy farm" will break ground later this year and start providing power next year, generating enough electricity from pholotvoltaic cells to power 12,000 homes.

And this from the River Group: Note the location is near Freeport. I can't help but believe this is what's about to happen with Owl's Head. Up on a hill...not a tree in sight...:roll:

08/04/2010

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]New solar power plant planned for Fla. Panhandle[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]FREEPORT (AP) ? A fledgling solar power company says it plans to build its first photovoltaic plant in the Florida Panhandle.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Shelton Stone, president of Energy Farm Inc., said Friday the $300 million facility capable of supplying 12,000 homes will be built on 550 acres near Freeport in Walton County.[/FONT]
Stone, an architect, said the Grayton Beach-based company in about 45 days expects to announce a deal for selling more than half of the 74-megawatt plant's electrical output to a Florida utility he declined to name.
He said Energy Farm is negotiating with Florida and out-of-state utilities for sale of the remaining capacity.
Some of the solar power will produce hydrogen for fuel cells to generate electricity after sunset.

On another thread, I read that the solar farm will be located in the area b/tw Owl's Head and Plantation at Freeport. No idea if it's true.

I havn't heard of such a project. Any additional info?

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There was a good thread a while back on this.:

http://www.sowal.com/bb/business-go...solar-company-build-74-megawatt-facility.html


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There was a good thread a while back on this.:

http://www.sowal.com/bb/business-go...solar-company-build-74-megawatt-facility.html


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I wonder what happened, seems they never made the announcement.

instead of passing an alternative energy bill during the special legislative session that would have required power companies to purchase a percentage of power from solar providers, the republican controled florida house ended the session after 45 min.

instead of passing an alternative energy bill during the special legislative session that would have required power companies to purchase a percentage of power from solar providers, the republican controled florida house ended the session after 45 min.

Because.. it would have raised our rates in the middle of a major recession? Really it's pretty common sense. The same republican lead legislature also passed an energy bill in 2008 that gave us, the tax payer, the best solar subsidies of any state in the nation, topping states like California. They also passed reforms that insured HOAs couldn't restrict solar installations, and mandatory net metering agreements with power companies, which took effect in 2009.

you asked what happened...

you asked what happened...

So they couldn't operate their business without the help of taxpayer subsidies? When that didn't come true they called the whole thing off?

not exactly sure what status is of Freeport solar company, but am aware of several other proposed solar farms around the state that need the legislature to mandate utility companies purchase a percentage of their power from solar providers in order to obtain construction financing. Purchase commitments equal funding.

There have been several articles about solar farms in the Florida Trend daily update during the past year.

I hope the guys in Freeport are able to deliver...one day the numbers will work and it could be a great asset to Walton County.

I emailed and asked if they were still going ahead w/ the project.

"yes" is the extent of the response I got.

I interviewed these gentleman Friday morning. They're great. Have great plans for Walton and Florida in general. I did get some new info on one item of interest, but I have to save it for the article. I will admit, I got excited over the projects they are working on. They will be good for everyone

Definitely good to see some jobs coming into Walton County that aren't tied to the volatile real estate and tourism sectors.

Definitely good to see some jobs coming into Walton County that aren't tied to the volatile real estate and tourism sectors.

Plus there's potential research grant money that could come this way if we have a facility like this. Hope they've figured out how to make the number work.