McDavid Solar Energy Site Now Producing Enough Power For 15,000 Homes
February 2, 2022
The 300,000 solar panels at the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center in McDavid are now producing enough electricity to power up to 15,000 homes.
At about 500 acres, the site has the capacity to generate 75 megawatts. The solar center is in an area north of West Bogia Road between South Pine Barren Road and Highway 29, just west of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
According to Florida Power & Light, the facility has been generating electricity since December 31. It is one of eight new solar energy centers put into service recently across the state.
“This important milestone for FPL is the product of our dedication to delivering cost-effective clean and reliable energy to our customers across the Sunshine State,” said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL. “This time last year, we had 33 solar energy centers in operation. To now reach 50 solar energy centers is proof of our tireless pursuit of a cleaner energy future for today and future generations.”
Construction is underway on the First City Solar Energy Center, also in North Escambia. Similar in size and capacity to power another 15,000 homes, First City is located off Holland, Cox and Roach roads in McDavid.
The FPL new solar energy centers recently placed into service across Florida are:
- FPL Cotton Creek (Escambia County)
- FPL Blue Springs (Jackson County)
- FPL Ghost Orchid (Hendry County)
- FPL Sawgrass (Hendry County)
- FPL Elder Branch (Manatee County)
- FPL Sundew (St. Lucie County)
- FPL Immokalee (Collier County)
- FPL Grove (Indian River County)
Together, the eight new solar energy centers are capable of generating 596 MW of quiet, emissions-free energy. That’s enough to power 120,000 homes annually and reduces carbon emissions equivalent to taking 112,000 cars off the road each year.
The eight new solar energy centers add approximately 2 million panels to FPL’s portfolio. Recently, FPL announced it is now expecting to complete its goal of installing 30 million solar panels across Florida five years early – by the end of 2025.
Pictured: The Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center in North Escambia. Photo by Jeff Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Decision Postponed On Rezoning 376 Acres In Molino
February 2, 2022
On Tuesday, the Escambia County Planning Board first denied, then postponed a final decision on a proposed large scale zoning change for 376 acres in Molino.
The wooded and undeveloped acreage is on five parcels along or near either Gibson Road or Crabtree Church Road in Molino (map below). The parcels are owned by Thomas Henry of Thomas Homes in Cantonment.
The current agricultural zoning on the property is agriculture, which allows for a maximum residential density of one dwelling unit on each 20 acres. Henry is proposing a future land use change to agricultural residential, which would allow a maximum of one residence per four acres.
According to Escambia County’s Comprehensive Plan, the agricultural residential zoning designation is allowed along highways, federal and “major county roads” as identified in the Escambia County Future Land Use Map.
(Story continues below graphic.)
The comprehensive plan does not offer a definition of “major county road”. The county’s development maps do show Gibson Road or Crabtree Church Road as major county roads.
County staff will seek clarification and the planning board will reconsider the proposal in April.
Several dozen citizens, mostly from Molino and Barrineau Park, attended Tuesday’s four-hour long planning board meeting. Speakers against the rezoning cited their opinions about inadequate infrastructure. They claimed that area roads and bridges, schools and emergency services are not adequate for added growth.
A county staff analysis of the rezoning application found that adequate infrastructure does exist.
Pictured: A portion of the property in question along Gibson Road in Molino. Pictured lower inset: Local resident Craig Exner addresses the Escambia County Planning Board Tuesday morning. Pictured below: Developer Thomas Henry speaks to the board. Pictured bottom: Map showing the area. NorthEscambia.com photo and images, click to enlarge.
Tate High Cheerleaders Win State Championship
February 2, 2022
The Tate High School cheerleaders are state champions.
They won the 2022 FHSAA Small Varsity competitive cheerleading championship.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here’s The Latest Schedule For CSX Crossing Closures; Quintette Is Next Week
February 2, 2022
We have more information today about temporary CSX railroad crossing closures in North Escambia this week and into next week.
The schedule below may change due to weather and other unforeseen delays. NorthEscambia.com will publish any updates that are provided.
As of now, it looks like Quintette Road will be scheduled for Monday or Tuesday.
Here is the complete schedule:
Closed as of Tuesday
- North Barth Road — scheduled to open Wednesday
- Brickyard Road (first crossing) — awaiting asphalt
- Bamer Holley Lane — awaiting asphalt
Closed Wednesday
- Brickyard Road (second crossing)
- Barth Road
Closing Wednesday or Thursday
- Daffin Road
- Fairground Road
Closing possibly Thursday, if not Monday
- North Chipper Road
Monday or Tuesday (tentative)
- Quintette Road
Wednesday or Thursday (tentative)
- McKenzie Road
- Williams Ditch Road
- Cottage Hill Road
There are also a small number of private roads that cross the tracks in the area. These residents will be notified when their road will be closed by a person knocking on their door or leaving a door hanger.
CSX is replacing tracks through the area and replacing the roadway at each crossing.
Atmore Man Charged In Connection With Stolen UTV Found In Walnut Hill
February 2, 2022
An Atmore man was arrested in connection with a stolen UTV found in Walnut Hill.
Michael Cleveland Rolin, 45, was charged with felony dealing in stolen property.
In 2020, Rolin was charged in Baldwin County with stealing a 2015 Kubota RTV900 utility vehicle worth $8,500.
The UTV was located on Highway 97A in Walnut Hill, parked in plain view. The resident told deputies that he had purchased it from Rolin for $1,500. The victim stated he had paid $800 of that amount under a payment plan to Rolin. The purchaser identified Rolin from his Baldwin County Jail photo, according to an arrest report.
A Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigator took possession of the UTV to return it to the rightful owner.
Rolin was arrested in Escambia County, Florida, this week after he was released from the Baldwin County Jail, where had been since July 2020 on charges of receiving stolen property, and third degree burglary.
He then posted a $7,500 bond to be released from the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola.
Flomaton Sailor Serving About USS Harry S. Truman
February 2, 2022
Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Travis Odom is serving aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security, and defend U.S., allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa
Odom is pictured using a drill to make a key in the repair shop aboard the USS Harry S. Truman.
Photos by U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman T’ara Tripp for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Firefighter Injured In Yonge Street Fire
February 1, 2022
An Escambia County firefighter is recovering after being injured while fighting a fire Tuesday afternoon.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to residential fire in the 1100 block of West Yonge Street where a a single-wide trailer and residential structure were fully engulfed in flames.
A firefighter reportedly fell through a rotted floor inside one of the structures. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The fire was brought under control in about 35 minutes. There were no other injuries.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
West Yonge Street is in the Englewood area, a few blocks from Pensacola High School.
What Was All That Smoke In North Escambia?
February 1, 2022
Very thick smoke blanketed parts of North Escambia Tuesday afternoon.
Joe Zwierzchowski, spokesperson for the Florida Forest Service, told NorthEscambia.com that the smoke was from a 4,000 acre controlled burn on Eglin Air Force Base some 35-40 miles away.
Readers reported heavy smoke, even some falling ash, in McDavid, Bratt, Walnut Hill and into Atmore. Visibilities quickly dropped to under 1,000 feet in some areas.
Motoristswere advised to treat the smoke like fog and exercise caution in areas of reduced visibility.
Pictured above: The sun almost obliterated by heavy smoke about 3:50 Tuesday afternoon in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com graphic/photo.
FHP Seeks Hit And Run Driver That Killed Man On Dark, Lonely Area Of Highway 29
February 1, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to seek a hit and run driver that struck and killed a man on Highway 29 early Monday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 42-year-old Pensacola man was killed about 2:45 a.m. on Highway 29 about one mile north of Champion Drive and the West Fraser Sawmill. The man was walking southbound in the inside lane when he was hit by an unknown southbound vehicle that fled the scene.
As of now, troopers don’t know why he was on the dark, lonely stretch of Highway 29. The entire area north of the sawmill is completely dark at night, mostly surrounded by woods. There are no houses in the area.
Late Monday afternoon, FHP told us they are still looking for any witnesses that observed the crash or may have seen the vehicle.
The vehicle is believed to be a large pickup truck or semi truck and may have front end damage, according to troopers.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call *FHP.
The identity of the victim has not been released.
Pictured: The general area where a man was struck and killed on Highway 29 north of Champion Drive as seen Tuesday night. The photo (taken safely by a passenger) shows the roadway illuminated by standard car headlights on high beams. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Students Celebrate Literacy With Space Station Astronauts, Chat With Future Astronaut
February 1, 2022
Ransom Middle School celebrated Literacy Week in an out of this world fashion last week.
The Escambia County School District’s theme was ” Launch into Literacy: Blast Off into New Worlds”, and Ransom students did just that.
Seventh grade students listened to astronauts on the International Space Station read their favorite stories all week. This included Florida middle school teacher turned Astronaut Joseph Acaba who read the book “Notable Notebooks” to them.
To bring Literacy Week in for a landing, Ransom students met and interviewed potential future Mars astronaut Alyssa Carson via online chat. They posed questions to the 20-year old Florida Tech University astrobiology student about her training at NASA and plans for colonizing the red planet.
“How would you like to see Mars colonized, and what things would you definitely want included in your Martian community?” is the question student Noah Jacobs asked.
The current unit in the students’ seventh grade language arts textbook centers around the question, “Should humanity’s future lie among the stars?” which made Carson the perfect candidate to offer an expert opinion on the subject of future space missions and exploration.
“We learned about Alyssa’s impressive resume this week as we planned our questions for our meeting with her,” seventh grader Kennedi Carter said. “She turned out to be the perfect person to ask. It was amazing to meet someone who has accomplished so much and who is not that much older than us.”
“Before meeting Alyssa Carson today, I never pictured myself going into space at such a young age,” said Addison Fowler who shares Carson’s dream of becoming an astronaut. “But Alyssa explained that we might be the perfect age to be the ones they will need for future colonies in space.”
In describing the exciting day, Landon Miller explained, “Today was one small step for students, and one giant leap for Ransom Middle School.”
After they signed off with Carson, the students posed for pictures with her image on a large screen, signed a card thanking her for such an exciting educational experience, and received “We Are the Mars Generation” bracelets she had mailed to them for the day’s big event.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
