.jpg)
The next utility-scale solar project proposed for Rockbridge County would go on 35 acres of a farm between the Interstate 64/U.S. 11 and I-81/I-64 interchanges, east of U.S. 11.
Warm Run Solar LLC, a division of Sun Tribe Development LLC, has applied for a special exception permit to place a 3 megawatts solar array on farmland off of Lincoln and Warm Run roads that is owned by trustee Robert F. Huffman of the H. Randolph Huffman Land Trust.
The application is an agenda item on the Rockbridge County Planning Commission’s meeting next Wednesday, Aug. 14.
“Warm Run Solar will provide clean, renewable, energy to Rockbridge County residents and businesses and improve regional air and water quality while helping Virginia meet its clean energy goals,” states the company in materials accompanying the application. “Solar energy offsets generation from traditional power plants and thereby reduces certain pollutants that are harmful to human health. Site preparation for the array footprint will require minimal grading as the majority of the array footprint contains slopes less than 10 percent.”
The company states that “electricity generated by the project is targeted to Virginia’s growing shared solar program with Dominion Energy which can provide additional cost savings to low-income subscribers in the community.” Warm Run officials have also indicated that the array will generate $460,000 in tax revenues for the county over the decades-long life of the project.
During the citizens’ comments portions of recent county meetings, several speakers have expressed opposition to having utility-scale solar projects on agriculturalzoned land. Some speakers have said they planned to oppose the Warm Run solar project.
The Planning Commission will make a recommendation about the project that will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors, which has final say on whether the solar array will be approved for the proposed location.
A community meeting in which company officials spoke about the project was held in May and attended by about 15 citizens. County and Sun Tribe staff responded to questions about solar energy, how the site was selected, the decommissioning process and project visibility from U.S. 11 and Interstates 64 and 81.
