Thanks to Scott Flood for the updates around the state on how industrial solar is going – not so well.

Photo: Spotsylvania industrial solar field

Mecklenburg County

Board denies Antler’s Road solar project appeal
https://www.thenewsprogress.com/news/article_5f5bb0fc-9202-11ed-b3da-bf3ac44a4f59.html

“When a solar farm comes into an area, the first thing it does is devalue the land around it. In this particular case, they cut the trees down whether they are ready to be cut or not. They scrape off all of the topsoil, which packs the dirt so hard that rain can’t even get into the dirt. Therefore, it runs off and you have erosion.”

Dan Wilborne said that the Planning Commission was “spot on” with their denial. He said that he cuts timber for a living and considers it an agricultural product. “We plant trees back where we cut timber. If you take the trees off of this 400 plus acres and there won’t be a tree on it for the next 40 years. That in and of itself has a lot to do with our environment, ecosystem, and wildlife.” He added that there is no way that this project will be constructed without affecting the water quality.

Jim Jennings stated that the State of Virginia recognizes timber and forest land as an agriculture commodity. “It’s a 21 billion dollar industry and it’s the leading employer of agriculture in Virginia so I just wanted to make that correction.”

Jennings made the motion to uphold the Planning Commission’s recommendation, which was unanimously agreed upon by the Board. The appeal was denied.”

Culpeper County

Culpeper planners deny permit for big solar project
https://www.insidenova.com/culpeper/planning-commission-denies-solar-project-recommendation/article_86f7d4ce-9289-11ed-adb8-c713fa51a70c.html

“In a double unanimous vote on Jan. 11, the Culpeper County Planning Commission denied a new conditional use permit application…”

Dinwiddie County

Dinwiddie rejects solar project agreement
https://www.thedinwiddiemonitor.com/news/dinwiddie-rejects-solar-project-agreement/article_d7409a8e-3825-11ec-8133-6fdf2e2bed7f.html

“The Dinwiddie Board of Supervisors disapproved a rezoning agreement for a solar farm preventing what would have been a subsequent siting agreement and a conditional use permit for the project from also being approved.”

Greensville County

Greensville board of supervisors denies Monarch Solar proposal
https://www.emporiaindependentmessenger.com/news/https://www.thecentralvirginian.com/news/split-decision-on-future-solar-projects/article_3e471274-e252-11ea-9480-d3142f77c545.html_63a5fd42-1413-11ed-949f-c79cf9166f59.html

“Greensville County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to deny Urban Grid’s “2232 application” at its monthly board meeting.”

Page County

Page County Planning Commission Unanimously Rejects Cape Solar Project
https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/page-county-planning-commission-unanimously-rejects-cape-solar-project/article_cd638f08-96ea-5238-8058-5021ab61919a.html

“…I have come to the conclusion that this project would have adverse impacts on the character of [our community. I, therefore, move to recommend denial of the Cape Solar project.”
After a loud round of applause by the attending citizens, the motion was seconded and agreed upon by all members of the Planning Commission.”

Pulaski County

Supervisors reject proposal for Shiloh solar project
https://pcpatriot.com/supervisors-reject-permit-for-shiloh-solar-project/

“A solar farm won’t be built in Shiloh, following denial Monday night by the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors of a Special Use Permit request.”

Augusta County

Augusta County Solar project not in accord with comprehensive plan, per planning commission vote
https://www.newsleader.com/story/news/2021/01/13/augusta-county-solar-projects-special-use-permit-denied-after-hours-long-public-hearing/6636612002/

“…the planning commission voted that the solar project was not in accord with the comprehensive plan…”

Louisa County

Split decision on future solar projects
https://www.thecentralvirginian.com/news/split-decision-on-future-solar-projects/article_3e471274-e252-11ea-9480-d3142f77c545.html

“Frustrated with reports of flooding caused by a solar field under construction, the Louisa County Planning Commission recommended that the developer not be allowed to build more solar on a nearby property.”

Amherst County

https://wset.com/news/local/amherst-county-planning-commission-recommends-denying-solar-farm-proposal-owner-wright-family-energix-energy-company-shawn-hershberger-gerri-dokos-environmental-impacts-board-of-supervisors-virginia-march-2023

Caroline County

“The Caroline County Board of Supervisors voted 6–0 to deny a special exemption permit for the Energix Racehorse Solar project on 145 acres off Quarters Road. About 30 residents living near the site signed a petition opposing the project. Caroline supervisors also denied a permit for CC Solar on a 1,600-acre parcel.”

https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/two-companies-eye-stafford-for-solar-farms/article_7da0e3f8-4986-11ed-9871-5f7bdfddc98c.html

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