Zeigler promises that if he is elected to the PSC that local residents will have more information about proposed solar farms and data centers

April 8, 2026 – Residents of Stockton in Baldwin County met in Bay Minette to hear a presentation from corporate officers at Silicon Ranch about a 4,500 acre solar farm that has already been approved by the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC).

For most of the residents impacted by this massive project the first they had heard of any of this was just weeks ago, but according to candidate for PSC Jim Zeigler (R) state and local government officials have known about this projects for months and even years.

Zeigler said that, "A surprising thing came out of Wednesday's company presentation about a proposed solar project in Stockton, Alabama: A slide indicated that developer Silicon Ranch had informed two Baldwin County entities about the project in May 2024 and continued to keep them informed. Yet, local citizens did not find out about the proposal until January and February of this year – very late to get involved in the approval process. Possibly too late."

The PSC approved the project weeks before any of the Stockton residents had received any notification of any of this.

"The project had also gained a required approval by the Alabama Public Service Commission December 2, 2025 of a necessary power agreement with Alabama Power Company,". Zeigler continued. "No notice to the people or local officials was given and no PSC hearing was held."

Zeigler, who was state former State Auditor from 2015 and 2023 and PSC Commissioner from 1975 to 1979, was at the community presentation in Bay Minette City Hall.

Zeigler said that the PSC took about three minutes to "rubber-stamp" the approval and no hearing was set. Zeigler promised to change that if he is elected.

"If I am on the PSC, the local people and officials will be notified just as soon as an application is filed," said Zeigler. "I will file a request for a hearing. It would be held at the Stockton Community Center, not in Montgomery. This practice of letting the affected people know last will stop. Visibility. Accountability. Transparency. Oversight. Notification of the public and the local officials."

Zeigler said that before the meeting he talked with about 70 citizens who gathered outside before the community meeting holding signs opposing the solar project. Zeigler suggested that the group hold a prayer meeting just before going inside the presentation from the corporate developer's presentation.

"The prayer gathering was a fitting beginning for a meeting that affects hundreds in North Baldwin County and could dramatically change life as they have always known it," Zeigler said. "Notice with great benefit that it was the local citizens who prayed and invoked the Almighty."

According to Zeigler the developers said that in May 2024 they reached out to both the Baldwin Alliance and the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce to introduce the project and have continued working with the Baldwin Alliance throughout the process.

Zeigler said that such information "never made it to the local people whose property, lives and environment could be forever changed. That should not happen and will not happen if I am elected. I will serve on the PSC as the Watchman."

Under Alabama law site selectors and economic developers are exempt from any reporting requirements.

Zeigler promised to be a "Watchman" for the voters – whose interests have long been subordinate to the corporate interests who run Montgomery.'

Zeigler is challenging PSC Place 2 incumbent Commissioner Chris Beeker III. Beeker III was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey on the same day that his father, Chris Beeker Jr. resigned for health reasons.

Zeigler pointed out that "Trey" Beeker (not his dad) was serving on the PSC when the solar application was filed and rushed through without any community input.

"That will be the last time an outside project ever sneaks up at the last minute on the Alabama people," Zeigler promised if he is elected.

Zeigler previously made a presentation in February at the initial citizen meeting in Stockton – weeks after Beeker and the other PSC Commissioners approved this project with little discussion or forethought. Zeigler said that then he laid out two strategies to prevent the project – revocation of the PSC approval or a re-zoning vote. The current PSC has not attempted to revoke their approval. If they did Silicon Ranch likely would sue the state.

Zeigler was hopeful that his proposed re-zoning procedure is moving forward and will go to the area voters within 90 days.

Zeigler, Beeker III, Priscila Andrews, and attorney Brent Woodall are all running in the May 19 GOP primary. The eventual Republican nominee will then face Democratic nominee Sheila D. McNeil in the November general election.

The Alabama Legislature – at the urging of the Alabama Power Company – has passed legislation stripping much of the power of the PSC and giving it to an appointed Secretary of Energy. The existing three-member statewide elected PSC will be replaced by a seven member PSC elected by Congressional District – effectively guaranteeing that Democrats will have two seats on the Commission. The GOP had controlled all three PSC seats since 2013.

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