MOBILE, Ala. (NBC 15) — The Poarch Creek Indians are taking a closer look at several large-scale solar projects proposed in north Baldwin County and Escambia County and what impacts those developments could have on land near the reservation. Poarch Creek Indians Division Director for Regulatory Affairs Rusty Martin showed us the headwaters of Perdido River located on tribal land that once served a baptism site. He says protecting natural resources like this remains a top priority.
“We want to make sure that being good stewards of the land, that we’re engaged in early conversations of what that’s going to look like, the impact it’s going to have on this area,” said Martin.
Martin says concerns include erosion, changes to wildlife habitat and disruptions in migration patterns. He says tribal officials have reached out to three companies exploring solar developments. Martin says developers of the closest proposed project to the reservation in the Lottie community may need an easement across tribal property for transmission infrastructure…