"Lost farmland may never be replaced"

That's the title of the President's Message in the September issue of the Virginia Farm Bureau News. In his letter, Mr. Wayne Pryor, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation president, identifies several factors contributing to loss of farmland, of which utility scale solar is one. He expresses his opposition to utility scale solar that takes away prime farmland.

Solar developers will continue to target farmland because it suits their needs best. Farmland is typically flat and relatively clear and therefore easier to develop. Farmland is typically also cheaper for developers to lease or purchase. It's likely that Orange County has not seen its last solar proposal.

We must continue to weigh each project against our Comprehensive Plan (available online). For anyone following utility scale solar, the Comp Plan is a must-read. The county must determine whether a proposed solar project is in substantial accord with the plan as part of the special use permit process. The solar developers will most certainly argue that their project is in substantial accord. After taking a look at the plan, county residents can make their own case to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors as to why a project is not in accord, in addition to sharing specific questions and concerns prior to and during public comment opportunities. This site's Get Involved page lists contact information for Orange County's Planning Commissioners and Supervisors

Sunfish Solar denied

On August 27 the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously denied the Sunfish Solar project. This decision followed a unanimous vote in June by the Planning Commission to recommend denial.

To watch the meeting proceedings and the citizen comment period, visit https://orangecova.portal.civicclerk.com/event/349/media. Use the menu on the right of the screen to go to section 17C where the footage related to the solar project begins.

This process began with the submission by the applicant of the special use permit application in November 2023, which led to the first meeting early in 2024 of community members opposed to the project. Actually, at that meeting, some came to learn more, and stayed to oppose.

Taking a stand against experienced developers intent on building projects such as Sunfish Solar is a long process filled with ups and downs. A suberb team effort maintained the forward momentum. We are indebted to those who went before us and their generous commitment to sharing what they learned.

Sunfish Solar Board of Supervisors hearing 8/27

This is the final meeting on Sunfish Solar. At this meeting the board will determine whether the project is denied or moves forward. PLEASE COME AND SHARE YOUR CONCERNS!

According to the public notice in the Orange County Review (8/15/24), as part of the Board's Regular Meeting scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, there will be three sections related to Sunfish Solar during the meeting with public comment scheduled for each:

1. APPEAL OF SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD DETERMINATION Pursuant to Sec. 15.2-2232.A. and H. of the Code of Virginia, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on SUP 23-10 (Sunfish Solar, LLC) on June 20, 2024, and forwarded a determination to the Board of Supervisors that said application for an 80 MW-ac utility-scale solar energy generation facility was not substantially in accord with the adopted Comprehensive Plan. Pursuant to Sec. 15.2-2232.B. of the Code of Virginia, the applicant has appealed the Planning Commission's determination. As such, the Board will consider the appeal request and decide to either uphold or overrule the Planning Commission's determination.

2. SPECIAL USE APPLICATION: The Board of Supervisors will consider a Special Use Permit application from Sunfish Solar, LLC, on behalf of BayWa r.e., to allow construction and operation of an approximately 932-acre 80 MW-ac utility-scale solar energy generation facility and an associated electrical substation. The property is located adjacent to True Blue Road and Old Office Road east of US Route 522, and approximately one mile from the Culpeper County line. The subject property is identified as Tax Map Parcels 8-14, 8-14D, 8-15, and 19-1. The property is situated in the Agricultural (A2) Recommended Future Land Use category, as described in the Comprehensive Plan.

3. SITING AGREEMENT FOR SUP 23-10 Sunfish Solar, LLC has applied for a Special Use Permit for the construction and operation of an approximately 932-acre utility-scale solar energy generation facility on Tax Map Parcels 8-14, 8-14D, 8-15, and 19-1, subject to certain conditions. Pursuant to Chapter 802 of the Acts of Assembly of 2000 (Va. Code Sections 15.2-2316.6 et seq.), Sunfish Solar, LLC has proposed a Siting Agreement with the County, which includes terms and conditions to mitigate the impacts of the proposed facility. As such, the Board will consider said Siting Agreement.

   The hearing will take place in the Board Meeting Room at the Public Safety Building, located at 11282 Government Center Drive. All interested persons are invited to attend the hearing and present their views and/or to submit written comments for the Board's consideration. Written comments may be submitted by mail to Attn: Alyson Simpson, P. O. Box 111, Orange, Virginia 22960 or by email to asimpson@orangecountyva.gov and must be received by 12:00 p.m. on August 27, 2024. Additionally, the meeting will be livestreamed on the County's website for remote viewing: orangecountyva.gov/525/Agendas-Minutes. Related documents may be examined during regular business hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, at the Office of the County Administrator, located on the second floor of the Gordon Building, 112 West Main Street, Orange, Virginia. Materials may also be viewed on the County website at orangecountyva.gov, once published. For more information, please contact the County Administrator's Office at (540) 672-3313. Theodore L. Voorhees Clerk to the Board of Supervisors COL-6100085.

All hands on deck for this meeting on Tuesday, August 27 at 5:00 pm! Come to show your opposition simply by being there or by sharing a public comment. Comments are likely to be limited to 2 minutes in length.

Resources:

Sunfish Solar project page link: https://orangecountyva.gov/1112/SUP-23-10-Sunfish-Solar

Read the Sunfish Solar developer's reply to the June 2024 Planning Commission meeting and public comments here: https://orangecountyva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6636/SUP-23-10---Sunfish-Solar---PC-Hearing---Response-Memo-8-2-24?bidId=