Alabama Senate Debates Solar Farm Pause

0:00Here's more Birmingham news from March 11th. A bill to halt new large-scale solar farms in Alabama for one year has passed out of committee and now faces a full vote in the state Senate. The sponsor, Senator Greg Albertan, wants time to review how these projects affect natural resources, especially in sensitive areas. It would not touch home solar setups or farms already built or underway. Lawmakers raised mixed views during the hearing. One senator from the Blackville region stressed the need for growth in that poor rural area, while clean energy advocates urged rejecting the pause to keep momentum going. Alabama trails other states and solar rollout, partly due to utility fees of $21 to $32 a month for rooftop panels. That policy faces a federal court challenge still unresolved. Meanwhile, a companion bill would let Gulf Coast counties oversee solar sites in their areas. The debate highlights tensions between green energy expansion and local environmental safeguards.

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