An Irwin County couple is suing one of the nation’s largest energy companies, a solar developer, a local Industrial Development Authority, and three others over a 200-megawatt solar project surrounding their family home, alleging conflicts of interest, issues with tax incentives, and a drive for private financial gain.
Christopher and Melody Mann filed a 42-page complaint July 7 in Irwin County Superior Court. The lawsuit names NextEra Energy, Inc, Amber Meadow Solar, LLC, NextEra project director Melissa Schroeder, the Ocilla-Irwin County Industrial Development Authority, McWhorter Driscoll, LLC, and Susan Driscoll as defendants.
The Manns allege in the complaint that the 2,000 acre project is designed in a way that will surround their property with solar panels and related electrical infrastructure.
But at the center of the lawsuit is a concern over the use of power and tax incentives to make the private project economically viable while ignoring property rights, privacy, safety concerns and the long-term effect on the home where they have lived for more than two decades.
The Manns’ lawsuit asks the court to consider whether an industrial development authority’s public financing and tax powers can help enable a private energy project while, as alleged by the homeowners, imposing a unique and uncompensated burden on one family’s property.
A ‘Forever Home’ Surrounded by Farmland
The lengthy complaint filed last week details the Mann’s family history in south Georgia and the generational connection to the property.
The lawsuit says Christopher Mann’s grandmother, Ann Steed, owned more than 700 acres in Irwin County. Six months before the Manns married, Steed deeded the couple three acres from property the family had owned for more than a century. The two ultimately constructed their “forever home” on the property on Five Bridge Road after getting married in 2000.
The Mann’s suit details at length the property’s agricultural surroundings, wildlife, and overall serenity where their children learned to ride bikes and explored surrounding property for wildlife and arrowheads. All of that, the Manns contend, is threatened by thousands of acres of solar panels, fencing, roads, transformers, inverters, cabling, concrete pads and other electrical infrastructure.
The Land Sale and the Solar Contract
The solar panel project stems from a property sale in 2013. Following the death of Christopher Mann’s mother, the Mann family sold approximately 750 acres to Ricky McWhorter and Susan Driscoll, identified in the lawsuit as owners and operators of McWhorter Driscoll, LLC.
The Manns allege McWhorter sat in their kitchen before the sale and assured them that, if the property were ever sold, they would receive the first opportunity to purchase it. The complaint says similar assurances were made to Melody Mann and her daughter while walking the farm.
In February 2023, the Manns say they began seeing surveyors and flags in fields near their home. When they questioned the Driscolls, the complaint says they were told there was a “solar contract” involving the property.
The Manns allege they later discovered Susan Driscoll, through McWhorter Driscoll, had entered into an arrangement in April 2022 allowing land to be used for the solar project.
Approximately six months later, according to the lawsuit, Driscoll was appointed to an economic development role with the Ocilla-Irwin County Industrial Development Authority – the basis of the conflict of interest allegations.
Allegations of Conflicting Public and Private Interests
The complaint says McWhorter Driscoll and Susan Driscoll served in an economic development role for the Industrial Development Authority while Driscoll simultaneously held a private financial interest in land connected to the solar project.
The Manns allege Driscoll stood to receive “substantial private financial benefit” if the project was approved and implemented. Nevertheless, Driscoll participated in promoting, advising on, and facilitating the project’s Memorandum of Understanding, bond resolution, bond validation, and tax-abatement structure.
The complaint further alleges the Industrial Development Authority, NextEra, and Amber Meadow Solar knew Driscoll had a financial interest in project land but continued relying on her in connection with the project. Some, the suit says, “accepted, used, encouraged, coordinated with, and/or benefited from” her involvement.
The lawsuit contends that Driscoll and McWhorter Driscoll misled the Manns about the future of the farmland and that they were led to believe the property would remain agricultural. On the off chance that the property was sold, they believed the Manns believed they would have the opportunity to purchase it and the project has deprived them of a meaningful opportunity to buy land to create a buffer.
Allegations of Trespassing and Drone Surveillance
Other allegations in the complaint pertain to claims of project-related crews trespassing on the Mann property and using drones to invade their private space.
The lawsuit says surveyors, contractors, agents and representatives working to advance the solar project entered or interfered with the Mann property without permission.
The complaint alleges crews inspected, surveyed, photographed, drilled or otherwise invaded the property and that drones were flown over the immediate airspace and curtilage of their home, including the family’s pool area. On at least one occasion, according to the complaint, a drone was used to surveil the Manns’ teenage daughter while she was sunbathing by the pool in a bathing suit – which the suit says was “intentional, unreasonable, and highly offensive intrusion” into the family’s private life.
An Accidental Phone Call Becomes Central to the Lawsuit
On May 18, 2023, NextEra project director Melissa Schroeder accidentally pocket-dialed the Manns. The Manns recorded the conversation that followed, as Georgia is a one-party consent state. According to the lawsuit, Schroeder and other company employees mocked the Manns’ financial resources during the call.
“Do you think they have money,” one person allegedly said.
Another statement quoted in the complaint says, “I think they think they have a lot of money, but they don’t.”
More significantly, the Manns allege project employees discussed intentionally placing equipment or other unsightly objects near the family’s property line.
The complaint quotes participants discussing erecting something “gigantic” on the property line and placing “something ugly” along the boundary while the Manns were in court.
“Tell them to move it all right there,” one person allegedly said.
“Let’s move it up. Let’s move it right there,” another statement reads.
The lawsuit says a participant suggested moving equipment into the area and “dig[ging] up the dirt.”
“I love it,” another person allegedly responded.
The Manns’ attorneys characterize the call as evidence that project personnel were considering using the project and its equipment to pressure or punish the family for opposing the development.
The lawsuit says the objective was to “smother the Manns into submission.”
The recorded conversation is referenced repeatedly in the complaint’s punitive damages and attorney’s fees claims.
NextEra Representative Accused of Trying to Bypass Attorneys
The complaint also focuses on communications between Schroeder and Christopher Mann. According to the lawsuit, Mann wanted to protect his property’s value and purchase land around his home to create a buffer between the residence and the solar facility.
The Manns allege Schroeder discouraged them from involving an attorney, telling Christopher Mann that “just having attorney fees and all that. It can add up.” Schroeder, the suit says, knew the Manns had legal representation but suggested the company might deal directly with them.
The lawsuit characterizes those communications as attempts to manipulate the Manns and pressure them into accepting the project without meaningful objection.
The Solar Ordinance and a 50-Foot Setback
Another key component of the suit is the challenge to the Irwin County’s solar ordinance.
According to the lawsuit, the chairman of the Irwin County Zoning Board reported during a January 4, 2024 public hearing that the board had unanimously recommended against adopting the solar ordinance.
The Manns and other residents appeared at the hearing and raised objections, including concerns about a 50-foot setback between solar infrastructure and adjoining residential property. Nevertheless, four days later, on January 8, the Irwin County Board of Commissioners adopted the ordinance.
The Manns contend that the adoption of the ordinance was without consideration of the Zoning Board’s adverse recommendation or the concerns by residents.
As a result, the equipment for the 2,000 solar project adjacent to the Mann’s property can be placed within 50 feet of the property line. The Manns contend that distance is inadequate to protect homeowners from noise, visual impacts, construction activity, fire concerns and other consequences of an industrial-scale electrical facility.
Environmental, Drainage and Fire Concerns
The complaint also outlines concerns about the lacking environmental, regional-impact, drainage, wetlands and fire-risk studies and without consideration of wetlands, agricultural land, wildlife, timber acreage, and drainage systems.
Among the Mann’s biggest concerns is runoff, which can lead to the contamination of wetlands, ponds, rivers, and other water resources in the area.
But secondarily, the Manns allege that neither fire infrastructure nor emergency response resources were considered before the project was approved, a concern that’s targeted toward the abundant electrical generation expected on the property.
Finally, the Manns allege that the required local, state, and federal permits for the project had not been obtained.
The Tax Abatement and Bond Structure
How the Ocilla-Irwin County Industrial Development Authority helped make the project financially viable is also addressed.
The project is governed in part by an October 10, 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between the Authority and Amber Meadow Solar, later ratified on November 25, and a bond resolution adopted December 18, 2024.
Under the arrangement described in the lawsuit, Amber Meadow would transfer title to project equipment to the Industrial Development Authority as equipment was acquired and installed. The Authority would then lease the equipment back to Amber Meadow.
The practical result, the Manns allege, is that the Authority holds legal title while Amber Meadow retains the economic and operational use of the equipment.
Because the Authority’s interest in the equipment is exempt from ad valorem taxation, the structure provides substantial tax savings to the solar project. Amber Meadow instead makes negotiated payments in lieu of taxes, commonly known as PILOT payments.
The Manns contend the tax abatement was not incidental to the project.
The complaint cites September 25, 2025 correspondence from counsel for NextEra and Amber Meadow describing the ad valorem tax abatement as “the sole reason for discussions” concerning project terms. The lawsuit argues the Authority’s participation was a substantial incentive and an “enabling mechanism” for the project.
In the Manns’ view, the public authority used its tax-exempt status, title-holding power and bond financing authority to make a private development economically viable while the resulting infrastructure burdened their home.
Manns Seek Damages and Compensation From a Jury
The complaint does not state a specific dollar amount sought, but seeks a jury decision on punitive damages against Next Era, Amber Meadow, Schroeder, McWhorter Driscoll and Susan Driscoll.
The Manns are also asking for compensation for the loss of use and enjoyment of their property, loss of privacy and open views, and distress associated with the alleged invasion and burdening of their home.
Damages for any diminution in the property’s value.
Against the Industrial Development Authority, the Manns seek “just and adequate compensation” for what they contend is a taking or damaging of private property under the Georgia Constitution.
They’re also seeking attorney’s fees.
The Manns are represented by Brent J. Savage, Brent Savage Jr., Greg Gilluly Jr. and Seth J. Brant of Savage, Turner, Pinckney, Savage, Sprouse & Gilluly.
