Welcome to Greenville County, South Carolina, where development is booming, industries are expanding, and new residents continue to arrive in droves. As development continues to pour in across its rural, metropolitan, and suburban landscapes, the county continues to evolve as a hub of opportunity for the Upstate.
Growth in Greenville is evident, and 18 zoning classifications offer a wide menu of development opportunities, from commercial and office districts to industrial and industrial parks.
A quick drive along I-85 or I-385, or a quick exit off one of the highways into various growing communities surrounding the city, suggests as much.
But in a rural southeastern area of the county, nestled in between the small Upstate communities of Princeton, Gray Court, and Fountain Inn, tucked away from high-rises and interstates, one solar company is now planting its flag in the Upstate.
Bolt Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Renewable Energy Services LLC in Durham, North Carolina, is investing $50 million into a cutting-edge solar farm. The project is poised to benefit not only the company, but also Greenville County’s community.
“The property where it’s located is owned by two families. But the topography is such that it could never be used for residential. It never could be used for commercial, or industrial, so it would just be land,” councilman Ennis Fant said to WSPA News, calling the project a “win-win.”
Approved by the Greenville County Council in February, it will begin initial construction in May.
The solar farm is not just a clean energy project, but a historic first for the county. It has earned the distinction of becoming the first-ever solar farm to earn a tax break from county leaders. The county’s council voted in February to reduce the property tax from 10.5% to 6% over the next 30 years to help attract the project.
The solar farm is expected to be operational by the end of this year. It arrives as the county’s population continues to grow at a rate of 1.79% per year. From 491,200 residents in 2015 to a projected 578,400 in 2025, Greenville has seen a rapid growth in population. The rate has shot up 17.75% in just one decade.
As skylines and landscapes go through a period of transition throughout downtown, interstates and roads, hospitals, healthcare centers, and new businesses are being built to meet an increased demand for living spaces, health care, social assistance, and other services.
Health care and social assistance employ 17.5% of people in the city, and construction makes up another 5.7%.
But amid Greenville’s expansion, Bolt Solar’s new project puts an innovative new twist on growth and development. “We’re not moving dirt, we’re not building buildings, we’re not doing anything, just set up some solar panels and move on,” councilman Rick Bradley said to WHNS.
Nestled between a quiet Methodist church and the banks of the scenic Reedy River, the project gives a glimpse of the county’s past, all while looking toward the future, with clean energy and quality of life in mind.
The site is set to generate $200,000 in tax revenues annually, all while putting investment back into the community, and seeking to reduce the local carbon footprint, as the county continues to prepare for growth.
The tax agreement asks Bolt Solar to invest at least $40 million into the community over the next five years and could help improve the quality of life for its residents. “One of the key benefits of this solar farm is how it helps preserve the land for future generations. With the increasing focus on clean energy… residents can look forward to a greener future, with hopes that this investment will encourage more sustainable practices throughout the community,” writes Here Greenville.
Instead of a housing subdivision, which could potentially require substantial infrastructure investments and result in a possible negative environmental impact, only 100 trees will be removed, which were set to be cut down regardless. “They were pine trees planted to be harvested,” Bradley said to WHNS News.
The project is designed to generate 44 megawatts of electricity, enough to power around 7,000 average American homes. Bolt Solar will aim to unlock this achievement while tying in high-voltage distribution lines in the area.
The project is garnering support from local leaders and the community alike.
“During the (Feb. 4) council meeting, officials discussed the project in depth, with little to no public opposition to the plan,” according to Here Greenville.
The project, which is set to be constructed on two parcels of land, totals around 400 acres and could represent a further commitment to green energy in Greenville County as it continues to grow.
