Columbus Co. solar farm under construction | News

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - As the first solar farm in Columbus County is being built, county officials are hoping it will attract more businesses to the county's industrial park just outside of Whiteville.

Officials said they hope the 60 acre solar farm will send the message that even though Columbus County is rural, it can compete with other counties when it comes to technology.

Construction on the farm that's located off of Midway Road started two weeks ago. Crews are expected to wrap up construction by the end of the year.

Columbus County's economic development director Gary Lanier said power from the solar panels will go to an electric grid and businesses will be able to buy energy from Progress Energy.

"There's a number of companies that like to be able to show that they've got a negative carbon footprint and having a solar farm pumping five megawatts of AC power onto the grid here at our industrial park we just feel will be a good technological advancement," Lanier said.

The solar farm is one thing commissioners are using to think outside the box to try to bring jobs to the county. In October, some commissioner will take a trip to China. Right now, a company that will export wine from China to Columbus County is in the process of setting up shop in the county.

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