The King George County Planning Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday night to recommend denial of a utility-scale solar project proposed on land owned by County Attorney State Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Westmoreland).
Commissioner Stanley Palivoda of the James Monroe District cast the lone vote in favor of the project, which is the subject of an open-space easement.
The vote came at the end of a public hearing to discuss a special exception permit that Stuart and Caledon Solar/TerraForm Power requested to construct a solar farm on 215 acres of a 1,431-acre parcel that is zoned Agriculture Preservation.
The proposed facility would sit on 122 of the 215 acres required for the project. Developers said that the solar farm, located at 12181 Caledon Road, would generate $11.3 million for the county over its lifetime, but nearby residents and conservationists who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting are not in favor of it.
“This land is held in perpetuity with a publicly held and publicly funded open space easement,” said Andrea Reese, representing the Chesapeake Conservancy. “Its terms allow for a fairly limited amount of future infrastructure if and only if it’s approved by the agency that holds the easement and is compatible with the conservation purposes. The applicant is not part of that community.”
Reese said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted nearly $1 million to conserve the property. Reese noted that, under the terms of the funding, the easement prohibits commercial solar development.
“The development of commercial solar installations is, in many circumstances, considered incompatible with conservation easements, since these projects tend to be intensive, landscape-altering projects with negative environmental impacts, particularly when it comes to site grading and stormwater runoff,” Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Director Matthew Wells wrote to Stuart.
A host of speakers came out to discuss the project.
Blake Cox, one of the co-founders of the nonprofit Energy Right, said it is the “cornerstone of America” for landowners to do what they want with their property as long as it doesn’t infringe on the rights of others.
Other speakers highlighted the bucolic nature of Caledon Road and their belief that the solar farm is incompatible with the landscape.
Nearby resident Ken Juvy said he is concerned that toxins and microplastics could impact water.
“How many years is this going to be there polluting the land?” Juvy said.
The commissioners who voted against the project highlighted the open space easement and concern that the project isn’t incompatible with conservation efforts.
The board of supervisors will hold a public hearing on the project to make the final decision at a future meeting.
“Lands that are protected, should remain protected,” Planning Commission Chair Jason Williams said.
