“The City of Claremont approved Monday night a development agreement with Apple Inc. to annex land into the city for a new solar farm.
Apple’s initial investment in the 100-acre, 17.5 megawatt solar farm is $55 million,” Van Matsumoto reports for The Hickory Daily Record. “And the tech giant’s project will create 75 indirect jobs during construction. City Manager Doug Barrick said Apple agreed to use source jobs locally, if possible.”
“The agreement was approved by Claremont City Council,” Matsumoto reports. “The property is located at 3123 Kelly Blvd., Claremont, which is not in the city’s corporate limits right now. All of the property is in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. But Barrick said the city agreed to annex the land. According to the Catawba County website, the market value of the land is more than $1.4 million.”
“A separate resolution passed Monday approved a land swap between Apple and the city. Two tracts of land bordering Kelly Boulevard between Penny Road and South Depot Street were given to the city from Apple. They were earmarked for greenways, public recreation and other public purposes. Their combined value is more than $92,000.
The city is bringing a 1.5-acre piece of land to the table in exchange for Apple’s offering. The plot is the city’s former South Waste Water Treatment Plant, worth $36,000. Barrick said at the council meeting the plant has not been used since 1993,” Matsumoto reports. “Per North Carolina law, 80 percent of the appraised value of a solar energy electric system is excluded from the city’s tax base.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Note:
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Apple plans Nevada solar farm to generate clean power for data center – July 2, 2013
Apple now gets 75 percent of its total power needs from renewable energy – March 21, 2013
Apple’s NC and Oregon data centers to use 100 percent renewable energy – May 17, 2012
Bloom Energy confirms they will supply fuel cells for Apple’s North Carolina data center – April 30, 2012
New aerial images of Apple’s planned NC fuel cell, solar farms published – April 7, 2012
Apple’s massive fuel cell energy project to be largest in the U.S. – April 4, 2012
Apple plans USA’s largest private fuel cell energy project in North Carolina – April 1, 2012
How Apple took the lead on the environment – February 22, 2012
Apple patent application reveals next-gen fuel cell powered Macs and iOS devices – December 22, 2011
Apple’s Mothership campus solar roof will be among biggest in U.S. – December 7, 2011
Apple working with US company, Leaf Solar Power, on North Carolina solar farm – November 8, 2011
Apple patent app details highly-advanced hydrogen fuel cells to power portable devices – October 20, 2011
Apple building huge solar farm around its billion-dollar North Carolina data center – October 26, 2011
1.4 mill for 100 acres? What a buy. He’ll that is the average price for a 4 bedroom house on a 7,500 ft lot in Cupertino.
Apple is building solar collectors. Who can possibly be against this? Hint: republican voters
Not if they’re making money on it!
Way to start the hate, as republican I resent individuals such as yourself that go with the tired all lines against the party. That would be like me quantifying all democrats as arrogant. However you do seem to fit that steroty
Stereotype*
Partisanship is a disease that results in civic paralysis. Shame on you both. Democrats and Republicans should both be locked in a rubber room together until they learn how to compromise to achieve the best scientific outcome for all of society. As it is, each party holds ALL OF US hostage. Don’t support either party’s propaganda of greed.
The Dems are not much to support, but the Republicans are seriously on another planet. I vote Green when I can.
Uh huh. Tell me, which President ripped the solar panels off the White House? Hint: Ronald Reagan. Which party denies that climate change is even a real thing? Hint: GOPT. Which party is constantly trying to defund tax breaks for solar projects? Hint: GOPT (Solindra!!!!)
The Kochs- through ALEC- are pushing state bills to tax Solar installations and kill tax incentives to residential customers of renewables. Surprise, surprise, surprise!
“tax incentives” = taking money from one person and giving to another.
I’m against ALL of them.. yes, even for good things like solar, and for oil, coal, etc.
My cousin Ernie live up around them parts. I had to tell
him they weren’t puttin’ in no space lasers, it’s just
them solar panels.