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Sept. 11, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: Rockbridge County, more than any other county I can think of, strikes a perfect balance of natural beauty, tradition, and pragmatism. During my time as a Washington and Lee University student in the county, I quickly realized it was well worth protecting. Now, as the leader of Energy Right, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Rockbridge leaders, landowners, and business owners on clean energy projects and policies. Our perspective is simple: clean energy projects must do right by rural Virginia. They must be done the right way.
The Warm Run solar project is a promising development, moving Rockbridge County towards energy independence while providing economic benefits to the landowner and community. Located on 35 acres of pasture near but invisible from the I-64 and I-81 interchange, the project will produce renewable energy while making good use of underutilized pasture.
Some have raised concerns about solar energy, but too much of the opposition is based on misinformation. County leaders have developed clear policies for solar proposals, including property line setbacks, vegetative buffers, and decommissioning plans.
Solar installations are compatible with agriculture, allowing for activities like planting native pollinator species or grazing livestock like sheep under the panels. Solar is a temporary land use, and once decommissioned, the land can return to farming, preserving it for future generations while providing the landowner with additional income.
To benefit the wider community, the Warm Run project is expected to generate around $460,000 in tax revenue over its lifetime, benefiting local budgets and strengthening the grid. The project is a smart, forwardlooking approach that respects property rights, supports local families, and fosters economic growth, all while preserving Rockbridge County’s rural character for years to come.
SKYLER ZUNK Richmond CEO and co-founder of Energy Right, a Virginia-based nonprofit that provides education to rural Virginia on clean energy from a conservative perspective.
