Over 100 people discuss the proposed solar farm in New Bloomfield at forum

NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. (KMIZ)

Over 100 people were at the Wednesday night meeting in New Bloomfield about a proposed solar farm project by NextEra energy resources and most say they are not happy about the proposed plan. 

Residents say they are concerned with how the project will affect property values, whether or not the energy generated would be used to power New Bloomfield and how much tax money the town would receive for the project. 

The city of Columbia entered a 30-year agreement to purchase the power from the 90-acre Truman Solar Field for more than 44 dollars per megawatt-hour during a deal made in May 2021. That facility is expected to produce more than 23,000 megawatt-hours during its first year of operation.

New Bloomfield's board of aldermen unanimously agreed to formally declare utility-scale solar installations a public nuisance. 

No representatives from NextEra energy resources were present at the forum.