Story Created:
Jul 13, 2011 at 3:58 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 13, 2011 at 7:10 PM CDT
Large steel beams and brackets line some 25 acres near Interstate 40 in Haywood County. These first clear signs of the West Tennessee Solar Farm are being constructed by the hour, project leaders say.
What's not being constructed are a rest area and visitor's center, planned by the state. Records show that component has been placed on hold because of a lack of state appropriations.
Despite cuts in funding and starting behind schedule, Haywood County Mayor Franklin smith says he's quite optimistic about the project. "We're glad to see the solar farm take shape. We're seeing steel in the ground. Soon we will see solar panels," Smith says.
Project leaders say the actual panels could be in place by the end of July. Once completed, the solar farm is expected to produce about five megawatts of "clean energy." The project is an initiative of the State of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee.
