The Valdosta City Council voted Thursday to sublease property to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority for future development of a solar facility.

“We’re very excited about that (the project),” Allan Ricketts, VLCIA project manager, said. “It’s establishing our community, Valdosta and Lowndes County, as a leader of the state in renewable sustainable energy projects.”

The City will lease the land to the Industrial Authority, who will sub-lease to Sterling Energy Assets, Inc. The project will then be constructed by Hannah Solar.

However, construction of the project is on hold until Sterling Energy Assets, Inc. receives approval from the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) loan/grant funding, Ricketts said.

“We’re not announcing the project,” he said. “We’re getting everything in line so that when we get that final review and approval, or that funding for the project, then we will be able to move forward quickly.”

The solar photovoltaic facility is proposed for two acres of land, located adjacent to the Mud Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and the site for the Wiregrass Power LLC Biomass Electric Generating Plant.

The solar project “will generate about 355 kilowatts of renewable sustainable electricity for sale to Georgia utilities,” Ricketts said.

The project will cost $1.7 million, $500,000 of which has been awarded by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) grant.

The grant will be used for construction and equipment and “the rest of the money will come from the company (Sterling Energy Assets, Inc.),” Ricketts said.

Once the grant is received, the project’s site preparation is planned to begin early Aug. and will take about 60 days to complete.

While no contracts have been signed, Georgia Power, Green EMC and Electric Cities of Georgia are interested in the project, he said.

“This will also be the largest solar project in history in the state of Georgia,” Larry Hanson, city manager, said.

Council members also approved the request for funding of the rehabilitation of a downtown building, located at 213 and 215 N. Ashley Street.

The 7,000 square foot building will be converted into one floor of office space and one floor for four residential units.

The project’s cost is $588,000, with an interest rate of three percent.

A local lender will pay $294,100, the loan fund will pay for $235,280, and the building owners will pay for $58,820 of the cost.

The building also has contracted a five year lease with Sentinel Probation, which plans to add five more positions for a total of 14 employees.

“That’s good stuff,” Mayor John Fretti said. “It’s something that we need and I commend those who step up in this economy.”

Also at the meeting, in celebration of the City of Valdosta’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, Fretti was presented with a crystal 150th birthday Coca Cola bottle from Lesley Stephens and John Browning, Coca Cola representatives.

“(We wanted to) thank everyone here, thank the mayor, thank the council,” Stephens said, “for your service and for what you do (for the community).”