BARTOW — Just weeks after the city inaugurated its own 40-acre solar farm, the Bartow city commissioners Monday night cleared the way for Tampa Electric Co. to harness even more solar power in the city.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the land-use designation and zoning for a 417-acre solar farm on the city’s east side. It’s one of two such farms that Tampa Electric, or TECO, plans to build in Bartow. The other proposed project, located along E. F. Griffin Road south of County Road 540A, already has the required land use and zoning approvals, but commissioners must approve a development agreement with TECO before construction can begin.

Commissioners approved a similar development agreement with TECO on Monday for the Peace Creek Solar project on the city’s east side. The agreement mandates that the solar panels not be more than 15 feet high and that any damage be repaired within 90 days. It also states that if the system is down for more than 120 days, the city can consider it abandoned and restore the property to its current condition. [click for full article]