The solar farm will use 205 acres, with a main entrance off Hawkins Academy Road. To help belay concerns from nearby residents, the outer rim of the project will feature an earthen berm with landscaping, with a security fence along the inside of the barrier. Initial plans call for about 175 acres to be covered by the solar panels — utilizing about 150,000 solar modules and as many as 20 transformers. The facility will interconnect with the Georgia Power/Georgia Transmission Corporation-East Social Circle substation but due to the size of the farm will require upgrades to the transmission lines. 

“Simon Solar Farm will have numerous benefits to the local community and our state by creating jobs, education and trailblazing, putting energy creation in the home owner’s control. My motto for the farm is ‘jobs for present, education for future, power forever.’”

The county’s first solar farm developed by Direct Sun Solar Energy and Technology LLC and to be located at 1181 Gratis Road north of Monroe, was expected to be online in 2012.  Ivey said his original plan was to start creating jobs in 2012 and this still may be a possibility if the Georgia Public Service Commission sees the project as a viable option. Georgia Power has currently slated to begin construction in 2014 but according to Ivey they are working to start as soon as possible.