Will massive solar project see the light of day? | Business

The project has drawn questions and criticism from Augusta County landowners who would live adjacent to the eight-foot-high panels, and from some members of the board of supervisors, who question such an ambitious project just a couple of months after the county approved a solar ordinance. The ordinance was approved in June by supervisors by a narrow 4-3 vote. The ordinance sets up the parameters for solar operations in the county, including zoning requirements, setbacks and buffering.

The 125-megawatt project would provide energy to a large and unnamed corporate buyer.

A public hearing and consideration of the special use permit for the project is planned before the Augusta County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 26 at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona.

And prior to that, South River District Supervisor Carolyn Bragg will meet with her constituents in a series of listening sessions regarding the project, including a meeting Tuesday night at 6 at the Stuarts Draft Library Station. The library station is located in Broadmoor Plaza.

The company applying for the project, Community Energy Solar of Pennsylvania, has spearheaded projects in Virginia and 12 other states since 1999.

Extensive buffering would be required, with panels no taller than eight feet. The panels would be fenced in with six-foot high black or green vinyl coded fencing. With construction time factored in, the operation of the project would not start until mid to late 2020.

The project has drawn the attention of landowners who are near the proposed solar panels.

Jerry Hite, a resident of Canada Court in Stuarts Draft, said he lives adjacent to an area where panels would be constructed. He questions why the county would allow a solar project in the Stuarts Draft area, an area with abundant infrastructure such as water and sewer for both residential and industrial development.

“This is not what the town was designed for with the sewer, water and all the infrastructure in place,” Hite said. He said Augusta County needs more residents and more workers in communities like Stuarts Draft. He also is concerned that his property value will decrease. “I bought property to go up, not down. I’m pretty upset,” he said.

Bragg said she needs to hear from citizens before she makes a decision to vote on the special use permit. “I want to hear the people impacted by it. This is our community. They drive there and live there,” she said.

Stuarts Draft is one of three areas in Augusta County designed for development as urban service areas. The other two areas are Fishersville and Weyers Cave. And Bragg said Augusta County has invested millions in the local wastewater treatment plant to handle future growth.

“No one is opposed to solar on the board,” she said. “We get it. But this is such a large project with a long impact. It needs to be vetted out. We need to listen to people and the impact on individual lives.”

Among the landowners who would receive lease payments is James Kindig, a Charolais cattle farmer who lives just off U.S. 340 coming into Stuarts Draft.

Kindig said the 80 to 100 acres of his farm that would have solar panels is used for both pasture and hay production. He said with the lease payments on his land, he could triple the revenue per acre per year.

“It’s a win-win situation for us and our neighbors,” Kindig said. He said the lease revenue offers the opportunity for him to diversify the revenue on his farm. And he is confident of Community Energy Solar’s work.

“The developer has done two other projects in Virginia and they have been very successful,” Kindig said.

Hite maintains the project is not a good fit.  “If we don’t do something right now Stuarts Draft will be the solar capital of Virginia,” he said. He said Augusta County should stick to the comprehensive plan for development and bring more industry and residential development to Stuarts Draft.

South River District Supervisor Carolyn Bragg will hold listening sessions regarding the potential solar farm project in Stuarts Draft and Lyndhurst. All of the sessions will be held at The Stuarts Draft Library Station. The dates and times:

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 1 p.m. – 2p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.