HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – The Hinds County Board of Supervisors have approved a new, controversial solar farm.

On Monday, the supervisors voted 3-2 in favor of Soul City Solar. Supervisors Robert Graham, Tony Smith and Wanda Evers were in favor of the solar farm, while Supervisors Deborah Butler-Dixon and Bobby “Bobcat” McGowan voted against it.

“The business was properly vetted. We could not find any rules, regulations, policies and procedures that they did not follow. They are going to be a good sponsor of the county,” said Graham.

The 5,800-acre solar farm, owned by Apex Clean Energy, will be located within and surrounding Bolton and Raymond. The solar farm would be the largest in the state, capable of powering 95,000 homes in Hinds County.

“Five-thousand-eight-hundred acres is 33 parcels that make up the project. Of those only 4,000 acres, we’re actually evaluating for space. We’re actually preserving about 800 acres of space within the project. That’s either wetland, floodplain, stream, forest area that is located on those parcels that we have leased but is not being disturbed for facilities, so the actual footprint of the project will roughly be 4,000 acres,” said Brian O’Shea, director of Public Engagement for Apex Clean Energy.

Some Raymond and Bolton residents voiced their concerns with the solar farm, fearing the impact it could have on their community. The farm’s impact on wildlife and property values were among the main concerns for the residents.

“We are very disappointed. Even though we expected this, we will fight another day. We’re going to contact the governor for a special, special session for legislation. We know that our state representatives are behind us on this,” said Christie Rowland, who lives in Raymond.

Apex Clean Energy is based in Charlottesville, Virginia. County officials said they expect the solar farm to be in operation by the end of 2027.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.