ADVANCE -- A stretch of Baltimore Road in Davie County could eventually lead to a couple of solar farms.
An Asheville company, Headwaters Solar, is looking into construction of two new solar farms.
"The basic size projects we're working on are in the four to five megawatt range. You need about 20 to 30 acres of land for projects of that size," said Brownie Newman, one of the partners in the company.
The county already has two solar farms. One of them is off a deserted section of Eaton Road.
Paula Bassi works at nearby Magne Shades, and often goes down the road to stop and take a break.
"It's quiet, relaxing,’’ said Bassi.
She doesn’t think the solar installation is an eyesore.
"The installation is pretty clean,’’ said Bassi. “I think it's a good step.”
It's a step toward more clean energy in the state.
Headwaters Solar of Asheville is working on a dozen projects across the state, including the two in Davie County.
What attracts their consideration is property where a project will fit in well.
"We don't want to build on any steep slopes on land that’s mostly cleared, where utility infrastructure is likely to be able to accommodate a solar farm,” said Newman.
County development officials say they don't actively pursue these projects just by virtue of the fact that don't provide any long-term jobs or tax base to the area.
They do generate 50 to 60 jobs during the construction phase.
The state's expected to be third in the nation in solar farm construction in the upcoming future.
Newman says there are many reasons.
"[It’s] not just because it's clean, but because it's becoming more cost-effective and affordable," he said.
It's something people like Bassi think is a step in the right direction.
"In order to save energy, we should have more in the area," said Bassi.
Newman says if the company green lights the projects, they would come online in about a year.