The King George County Board of Supervisors denied a special exception permit to construct a utility scale solar facility and livestock operation following a public hearing Tuesday night.
The board voted 4-1 to deny the permit to Open Road Renewables and Gibson Solar I, LLC, which sought to erect the solar panels on approximately 890 acres of private land made up of 48 parcels adjacent to Kings Highway at the intersection of Big Timber Road. The applicants were also requesting a determination that the solar facility is in accordance with the county’s comprehensive plan.
If approved, the applicants envisioned generating more than $4 million per year in tax revenue for the county and up to $19 million over the life of the project.
Board Chair William Davis of the Dahlgren District said the project had merit, but his vote against it came down to how it might affect water in the county and the freedoms of surrounding landowners.
“You hear comments like, ‘It’s our land’ and ‘Don’t tell us what to do with my land’ and ‘If I want to cut down all the trees,’ and all those things and you’re right,” Davis said. “Unless what you’re doing affects the people’s freedoms beside you because they have freedoms that need to be protected as well. Your freedom ends at the end of my nose. You reach the end of my nose; I have the right to protect myself.”
In addition to Davis, Vice Chair Cathy Binder of the Shiloh District where the land is located, voted against the project along with James Monroe District Supervisor T.C. Collins and at-large representative David Sullins.
Ken Stroud of the James Madison District voted in support of the facility. Stroud said the issue reminds him of the concerns the Fredericksburg Area Realtors Association and other property owners have about the county potentially increasing the minimum lot sizes in agriculturally zoned areas.
“We were accused of impacting property owner rights and decreasing their property values,” Stroud said. “Yet, those against the Gibson Solar project are asking us to do exactly that to the current landowners. Those landowners want to sell their property or lease their property to Open Road Renewables/Gibson Solar. Those folks have made their decision, which goes a long way to maintaining the rural character of the county.”
Kelsey Trainor, who would’ve helped operate the livestock operation on the solar farm, attempted to appeal to the supervisors’ desire to keep King George rural when she spoke during the public hearing.
Trainor, the co-owner of K&B Cattle, reminded the board of the vision statement it crafted in the past year that King George is to remain a rural locality “where all citizens can enjoy freedom and prosperity with limited government intrusion.”
“That freedom aligns perfectly with what we’re doing in the solar grazing program,” Trainor said. “It’s a partnership that allows us to stay on the land, raise livestock and generate income without putting any additional burden on taxpayers or local infrastructure … Your mission talks about preserving our heritage and anticipating future needs. Well, if we want the rural heritage to last, we have to invest in the next generation of agriculturists. I’m one of them and opportunities like the solar grazing site is one of the ways young and first-generation farmers like me can get access to land and build a future in agriculture in King George.”
Trainor, however, was in the minority at the well-attended hearing. Residents and supervisors expressed concern about storm runoff generated from solar facilities and efforts to decommission.
The applicant’s presentation stated that the decommissioning cost would be updated every five years and that if the project stopped generating electricity for a year or more, it would be decommissioned. Baseline soil testing was to take place prior to construction, and soil attributes were to be at baseline or better as part of decommissioning.
Still, four of the supervisors were not moved.
T.C. Collins, who represents the James Madison District, said the location was one of his greatest concerns.
“Do we want industrial sized solar?” Collins asked. “The answer is yes. [But] not there.”
Collins later told the applicants they’re not “dead in the water.”
“You’ve just got find another piece of property,” he said.
Davis stressed that his decision was not personal, but that he was guided by the county’s comprehensive plan and the rights of all landowners.
“If anything does go wrong over the next 10, 15, 20 years, people are going to be looking at the decision that we made today,” Davis said. “It’s a lot of weight in it.”
