Hyco Solar
Local benefits for Person County.
Hyco Solar will generate millions of dollars in property tax revenue over its lifespan that will help fund local schools, roads, and emergency services, without adding taxpayer-funded infrastructure needs. It will also create approximately 95 jobs during construction, attract new businesses, and produce efficient, domestic energy for North Carolina.
Hyco Solar is a proposed solar energy generation facility located in northwestern Person County, poised to bring substantial benefits to the entire community.
Over its lifespan, Hyco Solar will generate millions of dollars in property tax revenue, funding local schools, roads, and emergency services without requiring additional taxpayer-funded infrastructure. The project will create approximately 95 construction jobs, attract new businesses, and provide domestic energy for North Carolina.
Developed on private land with ideal proximity to transmission lines, Hyco Solar has worked with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to minimize any potential impacts to wildlife or habitats. With proposed buffers and setbacks, the facility will have negligible impacts to local property values.
The initiative is spearheaded by Cypress Creek Renewables, a company with flagship offices in Durham and Asheville, NC. Cypress Creek is dedicated to supporting community initiatives, including scholarships, nonprofit sponsorships, workforce development programs, and veterans programs throughout Person County.
CCR Energizing Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship
In 2025 Cypress Creek will be awarding scholarships to graduating high school seniors across the country who are leading us into the future. The one-time $2,500 scholarship can be used towards tuition, housing, books, or materials for a winning student’s program of study.
Hyco Solar will bring benefits the local community and Person County
Positive Local Economic Impact
This project is projected to generate $5 to $7 million in cumulative county revenue over its approximate 40-year lifespan and create an estimated 95 new construction jobs.
Low-Impact Development
Hyco Solar will not strain municipal services, nor will it negatively impact wildlife or the environment, and will not cause glare, odor, or sound.
Land Use Post Closure
Hyco Solar will require minimal changes to the land, which can be used for agricultural purposes after decommissioning.
Domestic Energy
Hyco Solar is expected to provide more than 180 million kilowatt hours per year of domestic energy to local and regional residents and businesses, enough electricity to power 8,000 North Carolina homes annually.
Downloads and Documents for Hyco Solar
Here you can find associated documents to download and read regarding the Hyco Solar project.
See how Hyco Solar will look based on previously completed projects
Cypress Creek has built over 250 solar projects throughout North Carolina, always working to ensure that the projects have as little impact on the surrounding community as possible. Pictured below are two photos from Bullock Solar in Vance County, NC as well as a rendering of Hyco Solar, which will also have a generous vegetative buffer to preserve the current aesthetics in the area.
Please note that the proposed Hyco vegetative buffer would be five times as dense in depth to the Bullock screening and would consist of 5-6 different layers of vegetative plantings compared to the three layers at Bullock.
Answers to the Frequently Asked Questions on Solar
Why solar energy?
Solar energy is a low-impact, domestic electricity source that harnesses the clean, naturally occurring substance of sunlight to generate power. It provides significant economic benefits to communities by safely and quietly powering households, while offering landowners a stable source of annual income to secure their land for future generations. Additionally, solar energy contributes to diversifying and stabilizing the electrical grid, helping the State of North Carolina achieve their decarbonization goals.
Is solar equipment safe for people and the environment?
Our solar equipment adheres to the highest national standards (ANSI and UL) and has no impact on the atmosphere, soil, or groundwater. Numerous studies and years of testing, which Cypress Creek is happy to share, support this. The Hyco Solar facility will be monitored remotely 24/7, with local technicians handling maintenance and emergency response. Additionally, we are committed to minimizing any environmental impact. Third-party studies are currently being conducted to assess the needs of local wildlife and plants related to this specific project, and the findings will be incorporated into project micro-siting and comprehensive permitting applications.
Will property values be impacted?
Hyco Solar is expected to have no impact on property values. Studies by local appraisers in North Carolina and other states have consistently found no negative effects on surrounding property values when considering appropriate vegetative buffering, setbacks, and adjacent land use. Cypress Creek has commissioned a third-party property appraisal report that indicates the project will not significantly harm adjacent property boundaries.
Will Hyco Solar create significant noise or disturbance?
Cypress Creek solar facilities are quiet, efficient energy producers. The panels are designed to absorb light rather than reflect it, and are mounted at an angle that maximizes energy production while minimizing glare. Additionally, utility-scale solar projects are typically low-profile and often incorporate vegetative screening to shield views from neighbors and roads. For Hyco Solar, Cypress Creek has engaged a local landscape architect to develop plans for a vegetative buffer around the project site.
How will Hyco Solar impact the land?
Cypress Creek Renewables is developing the Hyco Solar project in a rural area near the northwestern border of Person County, North Carolina, in full compliance with land use requirements. This project involves minimal environmental disruption compared to other land use types. The project will not deplete water resources, construct large building foundations, or cover the natural environment with asphalt. Cypress Creek is committed to mitigating our environmental impact to ensure that the project provides a net benefit to the residents and wildlife of Person County and North Carolina.
Will Hyco Solar benefit the community?
The project will require minimal community resources while providing a significant new source of tax revenue for Person County schools and other local services. During construction, new local jobs will be created, and following construction, there will be a small number of long-term, high-paying local positions. Additionally, Cypress Creek Renewables has a proven track record of supporting community initiatives, including scholarships and workforce development programs, in the areas where it operates. We are committed to continuing these efforts in Person County.
What happens at the end of the project's lifespan, and who is responsible for decommissioning?
Once the facility stops generating electricity, Cypress Creek will be responsible for removing all equipment and panels, including any associated costs. All equipment, conduits, structures, and foundations will be removed to a depth of at least three feet below grade. Fencing will also be removed, and the land will be restored to its natural state. The land will be suitable for farming again if the landowner chooses to do so.
Project Team
Harrison Cole
Associate Director, Development
Latoia Valentine
Community Engagement Coordinator
Mike Storch
Manager of External Affairs
