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SEAGROVE, N.C. – Randolph County could become the home of the state's third and second largest solar farm if commissioners approve a zoning change.

A proposed facility just south of Seagrove, N.C., would be a small step toward harnessing the sun's energy to produce electricity, but supporters believe solar farms have a bright future in North Carolina.

The county's planning director said Cary-based Green Tech Renewable Solutions has proposed building the solar farm along US 220 Business at Leather Road, a location he called ideal.

"It's almost perfectly designed for rural areas of North Carolina," said Hal Johnson. "It has almost no impact on the environment from a development standpoint. It's quiet and it has no impact on adjoining land uses or neighbors."

Randolph Electric Membership Corporation would purchase all of the electricity that the farm's nearly 5,600 solar panels would generate.

"It'll serve about 150 customers on a monthly, or annual basis, based on the generation out of the unit," said Dale Lambert, corporation vice-president.

Lambert said the move to solar generated electricity is expensive but the price of solar generation has come down.

"And I think as the price comes down on solar generation that you'll see more integration into the systems of electric utilities," said Lambert.

A state mandate requires that by 2018, two tenths of one percent of the electricity that companies like Randolph Electric sell be solar-generated, a modest foray into solar power.

"I think solar's a component of a larger picture," said Lambert. "We're very involved in energy efficiency. We have programs that we're offering to our members today to help them conserve energy, use energy more efficiently."

Johnson said solar energy makes sense for North Carolina's future.

"The sun's our most renewable energy source and we think we'll see more of these solar farms in North Carolina as the time goes on, we hope," he said.

The state's two existing solar farms are in Star and Hillsborough.

Johnson said if commissioners approve the zoning change when they meet Aug. 3, Green Tech could begin construction within days and the solar farm could generate it's first electricity by the end of the year.