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Stephanie Wiechmann
Just west of Gaston, the Meadow Forge solar project will encompass about 1000 acres and generate 163MW of power. The Chicago based parent company says that's enough to power 30,000 homes each day. The project will lease the land for 35 years from 16 landowners when construction begins, expected in early 2023. It will create more than 100 temporary construction jobs.

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Stephanie Wiechmann
Then there will be two permanent jobs on the solar site. Adrian Markocic is with North Carolina based NARENCO, which is heading another solar project south of Albany and north and east of the Muncie Dragway. He says solar projects are good neighbors.

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Adrian Markocic
Once complete, a solar farm is a passive, non-intrusive neighbor that generates no noise, light pollution or others.

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Stephanie Wiechmann
The Hawthorn Solar Project will encompass land on both sides of State Road 67 and generate 75MW of power or equivalent power for 15,000 homes. It's leasing from four property owners at this site when construction begins, expected in late 2024. It will create more than 200 temporary construction jobs. Then there will be up to seven permanent jobs on the solar site.

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Stephanie Wiechmann
Before the county council voted on the tax abatement, no one spoke at public hearings on the two projects. In Muncie, Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR news.