[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
I HAD LIKE TO CALL THE MARCH 8TH MEETING OF THE RI COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION TO ORDER.UH, LET'S PLEASE STAND AND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL DELIVERY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
IF WE COULD HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
UH, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY CHANGES? UH, TO THE AGENDA? IS, IS HEARING NONE? MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION MADE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS IS.IS THAT MR. CUNNINGHAM? YOU CALL FOR A VOTE.
DID YOU ASK ME IF I SECOND IT? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
NO, I WAS ASKING IF YOU SECOND IT.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE, UH, MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? SUCKER.
MR. SIMMONS ABSTAINING AND DR.
UH, CITIZEN'S COMMENTS? UH, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP THE CITIZEN'S COMMENTS? MR. LEY? UH, MR. CHAIR? NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS.
UH, JUST SO FOR CLARIFICATION, CITIZEN COMMENTS ARE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE TO SPEAK ON ANY TOPIC THEY WISH THAT GERMANE TO THE COUNTY.
THAT IS NOT GONNA BE DISCUSSED IN THE CASES THAT ARE COMING UP TONIGHT.
SO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE THREE CASES WILL COME, UH, AFTER ALL THE CASES HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AND WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR WHAT THE APPLICANT HAS TO SAY.
[5.A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
DO I HEAR APPROVAL FOR THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING? SO MOVED.[Items 6A - 6C]
IT'S NOW TIME TO HEAR, UH, THE PRESENTATION OF THE CASES FROM OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR, MR. BASSETT.BEFORE THAT TIME, I WOULD TURN THE, UH, FLOOR OVER TO MR. HARL, ONE OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'M, MY NAME IS JOHN LARRY HARVE, UM, BECAUSE OF THE KINSHIP OF, UM, SOME CERTAIN LANDOWNERS FOR THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I WOULD, UM, RECRUITING, RECRUIT RECLUSION MYSELF FROM, FROM VOTING JUST TO, UM, SAVE TIME AND COOPERATION AND CORRUPTION AND MISUNDERSTANDING.
IS IT OKAY WITH EVERYONE? THANK YOU.
UM, MARK, IT'S, UH, MR. BOW, HAVE TIME TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
DID YOU WANT TO SUGGEST ANY VARIATION ON THE, UH, CASES BEING INTRODUCED ONE BY ONE OR MAKE THE PRESENTATION FOR ALL THREE AT ONE TIME? YES, MR. CHAIR.
UH, THE, UH, COUNTY ATTORNEY AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT, UM, THIS EVENING.
UM, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE, UM, HEAR ALL THREE CASES AT ONE TIME.
UM, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE ON EACH ONE OF THE CASES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US THIS EVENING, UM, YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A SEPARATE MOTION FOR EACH ONE OF THE, THE THREE CASES, UM, WHEN YOU'RE READY TO DO THAT, UM, FOR EACH CASE.
BUT, UH, FROM A PRESENTATION STANDPOINT, I WAS GONNA MOVE THROUGH ALL THREE CASES.
UM, WE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE, UM, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, FOR EACH CASE, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
SO IF AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, WANTED TO HAVE NINE MINUTES, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE APPROPRIATE AND THE APPLICANT GETS 10 MINUTES, UH, FOR EACH CASE.
SO IF THE APPLICANT NEEDS TO TAKE UP TO 30 MINUTES FOR THEIR PRESENTATION, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE APPROPRIATE AS WELL.
[00:05:01]
TAKE THAT LONG WITH MINE, BUT, UM, CERTAINLY FOR OUR BYLAWS, UH, INDIVIDUALS, UH, THAT WANT WANDA MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, WOULD HAVE UP TO NINE MINUTES, UH, SINCE WE HAVE THE THREE CASES AND THE APPLICANT UP TO 30 MINUTES, UH, FOR THEIR, UH, FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.AND FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, THERE'S A SIGN UP SHEET IF YOU'RE ON THE TABLE THAT MR. GERLER CAN DIRECT YOU TO.
SO ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, UH, AT THE PUBLIC HEARING NEEDS TO SIGN UP, UH, FOR THAT.
UH, SO DON'T HESITATE TO COME UP AND SIGN AND, UH, THAT'LL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THE APPLICANT IS OKAY WITH JUST MAKING ONE PRESENTATION AS WELL.
AND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE BZA BYLAWS, EXCUSE ME, THE PC BYLAWS.
I'VE HAD TOO MANY THINGS ON MY MIND TODAY.
UH, STATES THAT THREE MINUTES FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, IS THE APPLICANT OKAY WITH COMBINING THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS AS WELL? YES, SIR.
Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO EXTEND IT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT WOULD'VE TO BE A VOTE TO EXTEND IT TO THE NINE MINUTES THAT MR. BASSETT WAS TALKING ABOUT.
SO WE ARE TALKING, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY OPINION OF THAT PLAINTIFF, MR. IS I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THAT EACH, UH, I MEAN SPEAKER, I, I SEE THAT TO BE, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY DO IF WE DIDN'T SEPARATE 'EM.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND GIVE THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON EACH CASE THREE MINUTES.
AND THAT CAN BE, IT CAN BE BY CONSENSUS.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND Y'ALL THAT IT WASN'T NECESSARY, BUT IF YOU SO WANT TO DO IT, YOU CAN, AND IT CAN BE, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BY MOTION UNLESS Y'ALL WANT TO.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THAT AND, OKAY.
UH, UH, THE FIRST PORTION OF OUR, UH, MEETING THIS EVENING, WE HAVE THE FIRST, UH, WHAT WE CALL THE FIRST CASE, UH, SA 23 DASH ONE.
UH, THAT'S, UH, LOOKING AT IS THE SUBJECT SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD.
UM, THAT'S A DETERMINATION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS TO MAKE UNDER VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2, 2232.
AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE GENERAL LOCATION, CHARACTER, AND EXTENT OF THE PROPOSED SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING FACILITY, LILY POND SOLAR, LLC, WHICH IS AN 80 MEGAWATT PHOTO, VOLTA SOLAR FACILITY, IS SUBSTANTIALLY IN ACCORD WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE PLAN.
THE APPLICANT SUBMITTED THE ATTACHED MEMORANDUM PREPARED, UH, BY THEIR ATTORNEY, UH, DATED FEBRUARY 24TH, 2023, AND ALSO EXHIBIT A AS WELL TO PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS FOR DETERMINING LILY POND SOLAR'S CONFORMITY WITH THE DEMEE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THOSE AS PART OF YOUR, YOUR PACKET THIS EVENING.
UM, JUST LOOKING AT, UH, THE EXISTING LAND USE FOR THE PROJECT, UM, YOU CAN SEE, UH, I BROKE IT DOWN INTO THREE SIDES FOR YOU.
UM, AS WAS NOTICED, AS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, THE PROJECT BEGINS AT OLD STAGE ROAD.
REAMS ROAD EXTENDS DOWN TO MONS NECK ROAD AND THEN OVER TO PERKINS ROAD.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE IT ALSO FOLLOWS DOWN, UH, WITH THE DOMINION ENERGY TRANSMISSION LINE, UH, GOING DOWN, UH, WEST OF HALIFAX ROAD.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE IT EXTENDS FURTHER SOUTH, UM, DOWN TO BRICK ROAD AND HALIFAX ROAD.
AND THEN PROJECT, UH, SOUTHERNMOST PORTION OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE ON THE SOUTHEASTERN SIDE OF FRICK ROAD AND THEN BORDERED ON THE NORTH, UM, BY HALIFAX ROAD AND ALSO, UH, THE RAILROAD.
SO THAT JUST GIVES YOU A GENERAL LOCATION OF THE PROJECT.
UH, THE PROJECT IN ITS ENTIRETY IS 1,891 ACRES, AND OF COURSE, THE APPLICANT IS ASKING, UH, AS PART OF THE REZONING, WHICH IS THE NEXT CASE TO REZONE THE PROPERTY FROM A TWO AGRICULTURAL TO UTILITY SCALE SOLAR ENERGY DISTRICT.
THAT'S OUR, WHAT WE REFER TO AS OUR SED DISTRICT THAT ALLOWS FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS.
AND THEY ALSO HAVE TO RECEIVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT,
[00:10:01]
UM, IF THE, UH, PROPERTY IS SEEN TO BE REZONED TO THE SOLAR ENERGY DISTRICT.UH, AS I SAID, THE PROJECT'S ON APPROX APPROXIMATELY OVERALL 1,891 ACRES CONSISTING OF 19 TAX PARCELS THAT YOU HAVE LISTED IN YOUR PACKET.
AND, UM, THE SOLAR PANELS THEMSELVES, UH, WOULD BE CITED ON APPROXIMATELY 500 ACRES OUT OF THAT OVERALL 1,891 ACRES.
THE REMAINDER OF THE PROPERTY, OF COURSE, WOULD BE, UM, INCLUDED IN, UM, THEY HAVE CONSERVATION AREAS DESIGNATED FOR BUFFERS.
UH, THEY ALSO HAVE SETBACKS, WHICH THE SETBACKS FROM ALL ROADS AND PROPERTY LINES WOULD BE 150 FEET FROM THE FENCED AREA OF THE PROJECT OUT TO, UH, ANY PROPERTY LINE, UH, THAT WAS, UH, WITHIN THE 150 FEET OF THAT FENCE LINE.
THE FENCED AREA WOULD BE SURROUNDING THE DI THE VARIOUS AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR SOLAR PANEL ARRAYS.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PACKET, UH, WITH, WITH THEIR MAPS, THEY IDENTIFIED THOSE SETBACKS, WILDLIFE CORRIDORS, NATURAL HABITATS, POLLINATOR GARDEN, UM, AS WELL AS BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION AREA AS WELL.
UM, AS THE APPLICANT INDICATED IN THEIR PACKET, MOST OF THE PROPERTIES WILL BE UNDER LONG TERM LEASES WITH SOME OF THE PROPERTIES PROVIDING RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION LINES, WHICH ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE REZONING REQUEST.
THERE IS A POINT OF INTERCONNECTION WITH THOSE, THE NORTH SOUTH, UH, DOMINION POWER TRANSMISSION LINES.
BASICALLY THAT'S WITHIN THE, UH, CENTER OF THE PROJECT AS SHOWN ON THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN.
UH, THE PANELS WOULD BE MOUNTED ON SINGLE ACCESS TRACKING SYSTEM AND AGAIN, WOULD BE LOCATED ON APPROXIMATELY 500 ACRES THROUGHOUT THE 1,891 ACRES OF THE, UH, PROJECT.
UM, ALSO, OF COURSE, AS PART OF THE PROJECT, UH, THE PANELS THEMSELVES, THEY HAVE THE RACKING SYSTEMS WHICH SUPPORT THE PANELS, INVERTERS, BREAKERS, SWITCHES, CABLING, POWER, TRANSFORMERS, ELECTRIC SUBSTATION, THAT'S THE SUBSTATION THAT I JUST REFERENCED, SWITCHY YARD AND THEN GENERATOR TIE, TIE LINE, AND ASSOCIATED MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT, UM, THAT WILL BE INSTALLED THROUGHOUT PORTIONS OF THE OVERALL SITE.
AGAIN, I DID NOTE, UH, THE SETBACKS AND BUFFERS FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, THOSE ARE, UH, WELL DETAILED IN THE MAPS THAT YOU HAVE AS PART OF YOUR PACKET.
AGAIN, JUST IN GENERAL, 150 FEET FROM ALL PROPERTY BOUNDARIES AND ALL ROADS, UM, WILL BE THE, UH, MINIMUM SETBACK ALONG HALIFAX ROAD.
THERE'LL BE A HUN 250 FOOT SETBACK, UH, AGAIN FOR THAT PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
UM, THAT'S ALONG HALIFAX ROAD.
THE APPLICANT HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A, UH, LANDSCAPING PLAN, UH, TO MITIGATE, UH, VISUAL IMPACTS OF THE PANELS, UH, FROM THE ADJOINING PROPERTIES AND ROADS AS WELL.
UM, ALSO, UH, TO HELP, UH, PRESERVE THE RURAL CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT.
THE APPLICANT IS MAINTAINING EXISTING MATURE VEGETATION TO ACT AS A BUFFER WITHIN THAT 150 FOOT SETBACK.
ALSO, YOU CAN SEE ON THE, UH, MAPS PROVIDED AS PART OF THEIR LANDSCAPE PLAN, THEY WILL BE PLANNING ADDITIONAL EVERGREEN PLANNINGS, UM, AS PART OF THE PROJECT, UM, TO SUPPLEMENT ANY VEGETATION, UH, WITHIN THE BUFFERS TO HELP SCREEN THE PROJECT.
UM, THEY'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED WILDLIFE QUARTERS, UH, WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA, AND THOSE ARE ALSO SHOWN ON THE, UH, LANDSCAPE PLAN.
UM, AND THERE ARE OTHER MAPS, UH, IN THEIR PACKET.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO, UH, SHOWING THAT THEY WOULD BE PLANTING, UH, WARM SEASON GRASSES AS WELL AS POLLINATOR PLANTS, UH, TO ALSO, UH, ENABLE AND ENHANCE WILDLIFE HABITATS, UH, WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA.
UH, MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE SOLAR PANELS PLAN TO BE 18 FEET.
[00:15:01]
ALSO OUR MAXIMUM HEIGHT WITHIN THE SOLAR ENERGY DISTRICT.UM, THEY DID EXTENSIVE WORK, UH, THEIR PHASE ONE STUDY, UH, FOR CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
UM, JUST TO NOTE, UH, MORE DETAILED INVESTIGATIONS AND APPLICATIONS WILL BE PREPARED AS PART OF THE, UH, DEQ PERMIT BY RULE AND AS WELL AS THE ARMY CORPS PERMIT APPLICATION AS WELL.
UM, THERE IS, UH, MORE EXTENSIVE REVIEW PRO PROCESS REQUIRED, UM, AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, THE PERMIT BY RULE.
UH, AS PART OF THAT PROCESS AS WELL, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES GAME AND INLAND FISHERIES AND DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION WILL BE CONSULTED AGAIN AS PART OF THAT REVIEW PROCESS.
UM, OF COURSE, LOOKING AT THE THE SITE, YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE'S, UH, WETLANDS AND STREAMS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE SITE, AND THOSE WILL HAVE TO BE, UH, ADDRESSED AS PART OF THE PROJECT TOO.
UM, AND ANY IMPACTS THAT THOSE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE TO BE, UH, PERMITTED AS WELL.
UH, THE APPLICANT HAS PURPA, UH, ALREADY PERFORMED A PHASE ONE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY, UH, FOR THE PROJECT AREA.
UM, THOSE ARE INCLUDED, UH, DETAILS ABOUT THAT IN YOUR PACKET AS WELL.
UM, THERE ARE SOME, UH, SOME HISTORIC ARCHITECT ARCHITECTURAL PROPERTIES, UH, WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA.
THERE'S ALSO AR ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES WITHIN THE AREA AS WELL.
AND, UM, AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, UH, RELATED TO THE CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD, UM, THERE ARE PORTIONS OF THE REAM STATION, ONE REAM STATION, TWO BOYDEN PLANK ROAD AND HATCH HATCHERS RUN BATTLEFIELDS, UM, WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA.
UM, ALSO, UH, TODAY, I GUESS IT'D BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO NOTE, I DID RECEIVE A LETTER, UH, FROM BATTLEFIELD, UH, UH, TRUST, UH, AND YOU HAVE THAT, UM, AT YOUR DESK, DESK THIS EVENING.
UM, ADDRESSING, UH, WHAT THEY FEEL ARE, UM, IMPACTS TO THE, UH, THE BATTLEFIELD BOUNDARIES, UH, THAT I JUST DISCUSSED.
UH, LOOKING AT PUBLIC FACILITIES, UH, OF COURSE THERE'S NO IMPACTS, UH, WITH, UH, REZONING THE PROPERTY, UH, TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UM, IMPACTS TO PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY, UM, WOULD INCLUDE, UH, THE PROPOSED SOLAR RAYS, THE INVERTER AND TRANSFORMERS HAVING ADDRESS FIRE PROTECTIONS AS REQUIRED BY THE APPLICABLE NATIONAL AND LOCAL FIRE CODE, AS WELL AS THE BUILDING CODE.
UH, THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC UTILITIES INVOLVES THE POINT OF INTERCONNECTION WITH DOMINION ENERGY'S EXISTING TRANSMISSION POWER LINE, UM, AGAIN, WHICH IS, UH, LOCATED ON THE INTERIOR PORTION OF THE PROJECT, UH, WEST OF HALIFAX ROAD.
UH, AND THAT SUBSTATION WOULD BE ACCESSED FROM HALIFAX ROAD.
UM, TRANSPORTATION, OF COURSE, UH, ONCE THE PROJECT, UM, IF APPROVED AND CONSTRUCTED, UH, WOULD GENERATE VERY FEW, UH, VEHICLE TRIPS TO THE SITE OTHER THAN DOING SITE VISITS, UH, MAINTENANCE VISITS, THAT TYPE OF THING.
UM, THE IMPACTS THERE, OF COURSE WOULD BE, UH, DURING CONSTRUCTION.
SO VDOT HAS, UH, MADE RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY HAVE, UH, WITH OTHER PROJECTS WITH SUBSTANTIAL IMPACTS ON THE, UH, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ROADS, UH, IN AND AROUND THE PROJECT.
UM, SO THAT VDOT IS, UH, REQUESTING THAT A CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN BE REQUIRED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, THIS PLAN WOULD INCLUDE, UH, PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION ACCESS ROUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT SITE, UM, FROM THE STATE PRIMARY ROADS, A PRE-CONSTRUCTION ASSESSMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE SECONDARY ROADS TO BE USED AS HAUL ROAD TO THE FACILITY WITH A COMMITMENT FROM THE APPLICANT TO REPAIR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED
[00:20:01]
DURING CONSTRUCTION AND TO RESTORE THE ROADWAYS TO PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONDITIONS.AND THREE, A FINAL PLAN TO IDENTIFY ONSITE AREAS SUITABLE FOR PARKING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND AREAS EXIST ONSITE TO ALLOW TRUCKS TO BE UNLOADED AND TURN AROUND WITHOUT HAVING, WITHOUT HAVING TO BACK ON THE STATE.
MAINTAINED ROADWAYS, OF COURSE, VDOT AND, UH, THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE, UM, LOW VOLUME COMMERCIAL ENTRANCES REQUIRED TO SERVE THE PROPOSED SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY.
UM, THESE ENTRANCES, UH, WOULD HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT STOPPING SITE DISTANCE BASED ON THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS AVAILABLE AT THE PROPOSED ENTRANCE LOCATION.
ALL FUTURE TRANSPORTATION RELATED IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ENTRANCES AND COMMERCIAL ENTRANCES WILL HAVE TO MEET VDOT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS AS PART OF VDO T'S PERMITTING PROCESS.
UH, NOW LOOKING AT THE, UH, RELEVANT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENTS, UM, OF COURSE THIS AREA IS WITHIN OUR RURAL CONSERVATION, WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UH, THE RURAL CONSERVATION AREA INCLUDES EXISTING LARGE LOT LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS WITH LOT SIZES AVERAGING FIVE ACRES OR GREATER WITH LIMITED COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE ABOVE EXISTING AREAS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE USES PERMITTED IN THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION.
IF NEW USES ARE INTRODUCED INTO THE RURAL CONSERVATION AREA, A PROPOSED USE SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE SPECIAL PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS, UH, WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION AND PLANNING GUIDELINES SET FORTH AS WELL IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SPECIAL PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDE THE FACT THAT THE PROPOSED SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING FACILITY IS LOCATED ON LAND CLASSIFIED AS PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND WITHIN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE.
UH, NOT ONLY CROP LAND, BUT ALSO, UH, FORESTRY IS CONSIDERED, UH, AGRICULTURAL USE.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS CITED TO ALLOW PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY TO REMAIN, UH, AS AGRICULTURAL USE, UH, WHILE ALSO TRYING TO VISUALLY BUFFER THE SOLAR PANELS, UH, AND UTILIZING EXIST EXISTING LANDSCAPE VEGETATION, UM, WHILE ALSO INCREASING THE BUFFER SETBACKS.
BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION, UH, IS ACCOUNTED FOR WITH CITING THE PROPOSED SOLAR PANELS OUTSIDE OF THE AREA WHERE TROOP MOVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BATTLES ARE DOCUMENTED.
UM, THE APPLICANT IS ALSO PROPOSING TO ESTABLISH A CONSERVATION EASEMENT, UH, FOR APPROXIMATELY 69 ACRES OF HISTORIC BATTLEFIELD AREAS.
THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT AREAS TO REMAIN UNDISTURBED IN CURRENT VEGETATION ARE TO BE MAINTAINED WITH THESE AREAS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE FENCE SOLAR PROJECT AREAS.
UH, OF COURSE, AS INDICATED, THE SIGHTING OF THE PROPOSED SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING FACILITY, UM, DOES ADDRESS MAINTAINING THE RURAL CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING AREA BY UTILIZING INCREASED SETBACKS, UH, BETWEEN THE SOLAR PANELS AND THE PERIMETER OF THE SITE, ADJOINING PROPERTIES AND ROADS, WHILE MAINTAINING THE EXISTING VEGETATION FOR THE VEGETATIVE BUFFERS.
AND THE POLLINATED POLLINATOR GARDENS AREAS ARE ALSO INCLUDED.
UH, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, A PROJECT WIDE LANDSCAPING PLAN IS PROPOSED, UH, TO HELP, UH, REDUCE THE VISUAL IMPACTS OF THE SOLAR PANELS IN AREAS WHERE THE EXISTING VEGETATION DOES NOT EFFECTIVELY SCREEN THE SOLAR ENERGY PANELS.
AGAIN, THEY WILL HAVE EVERGREEN PLANNINGS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN.
UM, LOOKING MORE SPECIFICALLY AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UH, WE DO FEEL LIKE THERE ARE POLICY STATEMENTS THAT ARE RELEVANT, UH, TO THE SUBSTANTIAL IN ACCORD DETERMINATION.
ONE, PRESERVE THE RURAL CHARACTER OF TIM WITTY COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES AGRICULTURE, OPEN SPACE, CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, LOW TAXES, QUALITY EDUCATION, SAFE ENVIRONMENTS, AND STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
TWO, CONSERVE AND PROTECT THE COUNTY'S NATURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.
THREE, MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO COORDINATE A BALANCED LAND USE PROGRAM AMONG VARIOUS TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS BY ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT WITHIN AREAS DEFINED
[00:25:01]
AS GROWTH CENTERS OR GROWTH CORRIDORS.AND FOUR, PRESERVE PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL AND TIMBERLANDS FROM PREMATURE CONVERSION TO URBAN USES BY DISCOURAGING URBAN DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
AND FIVE, PROVIDE MAINTAIN NEEDED COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN A COST EFFECTIVE MANNER.
AND IMPACT ANALYSIS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ALL MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SO THAT PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE ARE PROTECTED.
UH, IN ADDITION, THERE ARE OTHER, UM, AREAS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHERE WE HAVE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, AND I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT THOSE WHERE WE TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT AGRICULTURAL AND TIMBERLANDS PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES, OPEN SPACE, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THE ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE DEVELOPMENT.
AND THOSE ARE THE MAIN ITEMS THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, AS A STAFF, UH, WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND AGAIN, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE RURAL CONSERVATION AREA AS DEFINED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN.
WHILE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS RENEWABLE ENERGY, UH, SPECIFICALLY UTILITY SCALE, SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION, IT DOES ACCOUNT FOR FUTURE UTILITY GROWTH AND EXPANSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE MR. CHAIR, FOR THE SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD DETERMINATION.
UM, NEXT I'D LIKE TO, AS WE INDICATED, WE WOULD GO THROUGH THE, UH, THREE DIFFERENT CASES, UM, LIKE TO JUST ADDRESS A COUPLE ITEMS RELATED TO, UH, THE ACTUAL REZONING TO THE SOLAR ENERGY DISTRICT.
JUST WANTED TO NOTE, AS THE APPLICANT DID MORE SPECIFICALLY AS PART OF THE REZONING ITSELF, UM, AS YOU ALL I KNOW ARE WELL AWARE, UM, THE APPLICANT DID, UH, SUBMIT A SIMILAR PROJECT IN 2021 AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, AS THEY DID IN THEIR APPLICATION, UM, SOME OF THE, UH, CHANGES THAT THEY MADE, UM, WITH THIS NEW APPLICATION THAT, UH, YOU'RE CONSIDERING THIS EVENING, THE 2021 PROJECT TO UTILIZE APPROXIMATELY 160 ACRES OF ACTIVE AGRICULTURAL LAND THAT IS CROP PRODUCTION.
AND THE REVISED PLAN DOES SHOW A REDUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND, UM, UTILIZED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 ACRES.
ADDITIONAL PROJECT REVISIONS INCLUDE INCREASED PROJECT SETBACKS THAT, THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, UH, PREVIOUSLY.
UH, TO ENHANCE THE VISUAL SCREENING OF THE OVERALL PROJECT, THE PROPOSED PROJECT SETBACKS HAVE INCREASED TO 150 FEET AND THEN AGAIN ALONG HALIFAX ROAD TO 250 FEET.
ALSO, AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, AN ADDITIONAL PROJECT REVISION INCLUDES ESTABLISHING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 69 ACRES OF THE, UH, HISTORIC BATTLEFIELD AREAS.
AND AGAIN, THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IS TO REMAIN UNDISTURBED AND CURRENT VEGETATION ARE TO BE MAINTAINED WITH THESE AREAS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE FENCE SOLAR PROJECT AREA.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OTHER AREAS THAT WE DID NOT TOUCH ON AS PART OF THE SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD, OF COURSE, WITHIN THE SOLAR ENERGY DISTRICT.
UM, THERE ARE ITEMS DISCUSSED THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE APPLICATION.
UH, ONE OF THOSE IS FISCAL IMPACT AND THE APPLICANT, UM, DID SUBMIT THAT AS PART OF THEIR PACKET.
I'D JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THOSE AREAS THIS EVENING.
THE APPLICANT'S FISCAL IMPACT REPORT IDENTIFIES THAT UNDER THE CURRENT LAND USE, THE PROPERTY GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $6,760, AN ANNUAL REAL ESTATE TAX WITH A PROJECTED REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUE OVER 45 YEARS.
THAT'S THE, UH, PROPOSED PROJECT LIFESPAN OF, UH, 300, ROUGHLY $304,000.
AND AS THEY'VE INDICATED, AGAIN, WITH THE NEW USE, THE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY, THE TAX GENERATED FROM REASSESS VALUE.
UM, THE ASSESSED VALUE THAT THEY USED AS PART OF THEIR, UH, STUDY WAS $15,000 PER ACRE REASSESSMENT VALUE.
[00:30:02]
THE PROPERTY, UH, IS ESTIMATED TO BE, UH, $224,083 AND 50 CENTS.SO OVER THE 45 YEAR PROJECTED LIFETIME OF THE PROJECT, THE ESTIMATED REAL ESTATE TAX GENERATED, UH, WOULD BE $10 MILLION, UH, LITTLE OVER $10 MILLION.
OF COURSE, THE UH, PROJECT IS SUBJECT TO MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX, UH, SET FORTH IN THE VIRGINIA CODE, AND THE M AND T REVENUE IS ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER $4 MILLION OVER THE 45 YEAR LIFESPAN OF THE PROJECT.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A REVENUE SHARE, UM, OPTION, UM, THAT THE COUNTY CAN CHOOSE, UH, UH, TO ASSESS, UH, VERSUS THE M AND T.
AND THERE THE COUNTY CAN, UH, ASSESS UP TO $1,400 PER MEGAWATT.
AGAIN, THIS IS A 80 MEGAWATT PROJECT.
UM, AND THERE'S ALSO AN ESCALATOR THAT, UH, THE COUNTY CAN USE AS PART OF THAT REVENUE SHARE AGREEMENT OF 10% EVERY FIVE YEARS, BEGINNING IN YEAR 2026.
AND THAT GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $8.2 MILLION, UH, TAX REVENUE OVER 45 YEARS.
SO GIVEN THE TWO TAXING SCENARIOS, UH, THE PROJECT WOULD HAVE A DIRECT FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY, UH, FROM 14 MILLION TO $18 MILLION, AGAIN, OVER THE 45 YEAR OF LIFESPAN OF THE PROJECT.
UM, WE DISCUSSED, UH, THE COMMUNITY IMPACTS, UH, FOR THE PROJECT.
UH, ALSO DISCUSSED THE CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, IMPACTS, UH, TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS AS WELL.
UM, SO AS PART OF THE REZONING, UM, WE DO HAVE, UM, PLANNING, COMMISSION ACTION AND A, UM, UH, RESOLUTION FOR YOU ALL PREPARED FOR YOU ALL, UH, WHEN YOU MAKE, MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
JUST WANTED TO NOTE, AS PART OF THE RE REZONING REQUEST, UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION SHOULD CONSIDER IF THE REZONING REQUEST IS COMPATIBLE AND NOT A SU A SUBSTANTIAL DETRIMENT WITH THE SURROUNDING ZONING PATTERN AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY, AND THAT IT CONFORMS TO THE UNDERLYING USES OUTLINED IN THE RURAL CONSERVATION AREA OF THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE FOR THIS GENERAL AREA OF THE COUNTY.
UH, THE THIRD, UH, ITEM CASE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US THIS EVENING, OF COURSE, IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AS I OUTLINED, UH, PREVIOUSLY.
UM, IF THE REZONING IS APPROVED, THE APPLICANT ALSO HAS TO RECEIVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, UH, TO OPERATE THE 80 MEGAWATT SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING FACILITY.
AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, UH, WITH CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS, UM, IF YOU AGREE, UH, TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
WE ALSO, UM, HAVE CONDITIONS AND THE APPLICANT, UH, DID SUBMIT, UM, WHAT THEY THOUGHT, UH, WERE APPLICABLE CONDITIONS, UH, TO THE PROJECT.
UM, AND, UH, WE'VE ALSO, UH, HAVE PROPOSED CONDITIONS AS WELL, UH, WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR, UH, TO WHAT THE APPLICANT, UH, SUBMITTED AS PART OF THEIR PACKET.
UM, SO WE HAVE THOSE CONDITIONS OUTLINED AS PART OF THE, UH, STAFF REPORT FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PIT PERMIT.
UM, BASICALLY I, I'LL RUN THROUGH THOSE, UH, FOR YOU ALL.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE THOSE SET FORTH, UH, IN THE STAFF REPORT FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UH, WE JUST DEFINE, UH, WHAT THE PROJECT AREA IS, WHAT THE PROJECT IS, UM, WHAT CAN BE COMPONENTS, UM, WOULD BE PART OF THE PROJECT.
ALSO TIE THE PROJECT TO THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN, UM, WHO THE OWNER AND OPERATOR IS.
UM, UM, ALSO TIE THE APPLICANT TO STUDIES AND PLANS.
AGAIN, THE APPLICANT WOULD HAVE TO CON SUBMIT A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN, UH, AS PART OF THE PROJECT.
AGAIN, THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO SUBMIT A CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN, TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLAN IN ROAD REPAIR PLAN AS PART OF THE PROJECT.
UM, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE STAFF REPORT, A LANDSCAPING PLAN, UM, WOULD BE PREPARED AS WELL, UM, WHICH THEY'VE OUTLINED IN THEIR REPORT.
[00:35:01]
PROJECT WOULD BE, UM, REQUIRED TO, UH, TO IMPLEMENT THAT LANDSCAPE PLAN AS PART OF THE PROJECT.ALSO, UH, AS PART OF THAT, UM, THERE WOULD BE A BOND POSTED AS PART OF A LANDSCAPING BOND, UH, FOR 10 YEARS, UH, TO ENSURE MAINTENANCE, UM, OF ANY LANDSCAPING INSTALLED, UM, THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY MAINTAIN AND, UH, SCREEN THAT PROJECT AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY.
UM, THE, OF COURSE, UH, TIE THE PROJECT TO THE BUILDING AND ELECTRICAL PLANS, UM, FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORIC SURVEY STUDIES, LIABILITY INSURANCE CERTIFICATE.
UM, THERE'S DISCUSSION ABOUT THE, UH, GRADING PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.
UM, ALSO INCLUDED IS AN INITIAL GROUNDWATER REPORT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE, UH, DONE AS PART OF THE PROJECT.
UH, THAT WOULD INCLUDE GROUNDWATER MONITORING.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, FOR STAFF, UH, WHO HAS TO, UH, PERFORM INSPECTIONS ON THE PROJECT, UH, THERE WOULD BE REIMBURSEMENT, UH, FOR THE APPLICANT FOR THIRD PARTY REVIEWS, UM, AND OTHER INSPECTIONS AS PART OF THE PROJECT.
UM, WE OUTLINED, UH, WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE FINAL SITE PLAN SUBMITTAL.
UM, WE DISCUSS, UH, ACCESS TO THE PROJECT SITE, UH, LIGHTING CONSIDERATIONS, UM, ACCESS AND INSPECTIONS FOR, UH, COUNTY STAFF, UH, TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE SITE FOR INSPECTIONS, UH, TRAINING THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE, UH, TO STAFF COMPLIANCE.
AGAIN, GROUNDWATER MONITORING.
UM, SIGNAGE IS ADDRESSED AS PART OF THE PROJECT.
UM, AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE PROGRAM, UH, APPLICABLE TAXES AND FEES ARE DISCUSSED AS PART OF THE CONDITIONS.
UH, PROJECT COMPONENTS AND DESIGN HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AND WHY ITEM COURSE.
ONE ITEM, UH, THAT WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT BEFORE IS DECOMMISSIONING IF THE PROJECT IS DECOMMISSIONED, UM, HOW THAT WOULD, UH, WOULD HAPPEN.
AND THAT'S, UH, DISCUSSED THOROUGHLY AS PART OF THE CONDITIONS UNDER DECOMMISSIONING.
ALSO, WE DETAIL, UH, PERMITS AND REPORTS THAT ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE PROJECT, UH, THAT HAVE TO BE, UH, TURNED INTO VARIOUS COUNTY STAFF MEMBERS.
ALSO, UH, AS DISCUSSED, UH, PREVIOUSLY, THERE WOULD BE A PROJECT LIAISON FOR THE COUNTY, UH, TO, UH, TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT, UH, RELATED TO THE PROJECT, UM, OF COURSE.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, UM, AN ANNUAL ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE CUP AND, UM, ALSO DISCUSS ANY VIOLATIONS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE'S, UH, VIOLATIONS RELATED TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND THE PROJECT.
AND THEN, UH, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, UH, SO THAT, UH, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WOULD CARRY THROUGH THE LIFE AND CONDITIONS WOULD CARRY THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT.
AND THEN AGAIN, UH, WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION FOR YOU ALL WHEN YOU'RE READY TO, UH, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE ACTUAL CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ITSELF.
I KNOW I'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF, UH, INFORMATION AS PART OF THE STAFF REPORT, TRIED TO OUTLINE THAT FOR YOU ALL.
UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? FAR AS OPEN THEN? PLANNING COMMISSIONS QUESTION, HEAR NONE.
UM, IS NOW, UH, TIME FOR THE APPLICANT'S TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST COME TO THE PODIUM AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS SO WE CAN FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS DOMINICA SINK, UM, ADDRESS 31 22 KENSINGTON AVENUE, RICHMOND.
UM, I AM, UM, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ATIX.
UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR OVER TWO YEARS, SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR UPDATED CASE.
AS MENTIONED, WE SUBMITTED OUR APPLICATION IN OCTOBER, 2022.
[00:40:01]
IS FOR REZONING TO SOLAR ENERGY DISTRICT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.BEFORE I START THE APPLICATION, UM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO ADDRESS, UM, SOME UNFORTUNATE BUT DELIBERATE MISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN SPREAD ABOUT OUR COMPANY, UH, ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE STAND FOR.
UM, OUR PARENT COMPANY IS BASED IN ISRAEL.
UM, THIS DAY AND AGE, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT GONNA LIKE THAT.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THIS.
UH, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR ROOTS IN ISRAEL.
WE ARE EVEN PROUDER OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN AMERICA.
WE ACTIVELY INVEST IN AMERICAN ECONOMY.
WE INVEST IN VIRGINIA ECONOMY AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE INVESTED OVER $450 MILLION IN AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE 69 AMERICAN EMPLOYEES.
OUR AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS ARE IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
OUR ENGINEERING HEADQUARTERS ARE IN ROANOKE.
UM, AND WITH THAT, UM, AS I MENTIONED IT, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THE GROUP THAT IS SPREADING THE MISINFORMATION, UM, THEY TAKE NO INTEREST IN ANY OTHER SOLAR COMPANY.
UM, THEY ATTACK NO OTHER SOLAR PROJECTS UNLESS THEY ARE RELATED TO ENERGETIC.
UM, THEY DO TAKE INTEREST IN OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ISRAEL.
UM, SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO BEFORE WE START OUR PRESENTATION, UM, I JUST WANTED TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THAT INFORMATION.
I'M HERE TO, UM, PROVIDE YOU WITH FACTS, UM, AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, NONE.
AS MENTIONED, UM, ENERGETIC, OUR AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS ARE IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
UH, WE ARE ONE OF THE LEADING SOLAR ENERGY COMPANIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
WE HAVE NINE OPERATIONAL PROJECTS.
UM, ON NEXT SLIDE, I HAVE, UM, A BRIEF DEPICTION OF WHERE WE ARE OPERATING.
UH, WE HAVE SIX MORE PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR.
UH, WE ARE A LONG TERM PARTNER FOR THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.
UM, SO WE DEVELOP OUR PROJECTS, WE BUILD THEM, AND WE OWN AND OPERATE THEM FOR THE LONG TERM.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY DIFFERENTIATES US FROM OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS INDUSTRY.
WE'RE NOT JUST THE DEVELOPERS.
WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER.
WE MAINTAIN THE PROJECTS FOR THE LONG TERM.
UH, AND ADDITIONAL THING IF MR. GURLEY, IF WE COULD, I AM SORRY ABOUT THAT.
UM, ADDITIONAL THING THAT DIFFERENTIATES US AS A COMPANY, WE HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.
UM, MAJORITY OF THE EQUIPMENT WE PROCURE FOR OUR PROJECTS, UH, IS MADE IN AMERICA.
UH, WE'VE ALSO ENTERED INTO A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH FOR SOLAR, WHO'S THE ONLY UTILITY SCALE AMERICAN SOLAR PANEL MANUFACTURER.
UH, THEIR HEADQUARTERS ARE IN ARIZONA.
UM, THEIR US MANUFACTURING FACILITIES ARE IN OHIO.
UH, THAT'S WHERE THEIR RECYCLING FACILITIES ARE LOCATED AS WELL.
I'M TRYING TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I PROMISE I'M NOT GONNA TAKE ALL 30 MINUTES, BUT WE ARE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES.
UH, SO THIS IS THE MAP OF OUR OPERATIONAL PROJECTS.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE WORKING ACROSS VIRGINIA, UH, FROM WITH COUNTY TO CHESAPEAKE.
UM, PRINCE WILLIAM, TOWN OF MOUNT JACKSON.
UM, THE NEWEST PROJECT STARTING CONSTRUCTION, ACTUALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.
SO JUST FOR PERSPECTIVE, THE APPLICATION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, 80 MEGAWATTS AC THE PROJECT UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN SURY COUNTY, SORRY, SUSSEX COUNTY, 118 MEGAWATTS AC.
SO SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN THE PROPOSED PROJECT HERE TO TONIGHT.
UM, AS MENTIONED BY MR. VAED, UH, WE WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE KEPT FROM THE PREVIOUS, UM, APPLICATION, BUT ALSO WHAT ARE THE KEY, UH, UPGRADES AND CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE.
SO NUMBER ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US, UH, AS WE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY IS NET ZERO IMPACT TO DIMITY FARMLAND.
UH, THE SECOND ONE IS ENHANCED SETBACKS TO ENSURE, TO ENSURE VISUAL SCREENING.
SO WE HAVE DOUBLED THE SETBACKS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY, BY YOUR ORDINANCE, UM, INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, AND RECONFIGURATION
[00:45:01]
OF THE PROJECT FOOTPRINT, UM, APPROXIMATE LOCATION.SO, UM, JUST BRIEFLY, THE PREVIOUS APPLICATION, IF YOU SEE SECTIONS ONE, TWO, AND THREE, I'M GOING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.
SECTION ONE, UM, IS NEWLY ADDED SECTION.
AS YOU CAN SEE, MAJORITY OF THAT LAND IS PRESERVED FOR VISUAL SCREENING.
SO EVERYTHING THAT'S IN GREEN, THAT'S EXISTING MATURE TIMBER, UM, THAT'S WETLANDS, WHAT YOU SEE IN GRAY, THAT'S PROPOSED PANEL AREAS.
THE REASON WHY WE ADDED THIS SECTION IS BECAUSE WE HAVE REMOVED SEVERAL AREAS THAT ARE CURRENTLY FARMED.
THE SECOND REASON IS WE HAVE DOUBLED THE SETBACKS FROM PROPERTY LINES AND ROADS.
SO THE ADDITION OF THIS AREA IS JUST TO MAKE UP FOR THE CAPACITY THAT WE LOST.
AS I MENTIONED, THE PROJECT IS 18 MEGAWATTS AC.
UM, EVEN THOUGH THE APPLICATION IS FOR ALMOST 1900 ACRES, THE PROJECT ITSELF, THE EQUIPMENT AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE LOCATED ON LESS THAN 500 ACRES.
UM, THAT'S APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT OF POWERING, UM, 1208 888 HOMES.
UM, SOLAR PROJECT DO NOT CREATE POLLUTION, UM, NOISE.
THERE'S NO TRAFFIC OUTSIDE OF THE PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTION.
SO IT'S A REALLY LOW IMPACT, USE NO STRAIN ON THE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GENERATING SIGNIFICANT TAX REVENUES FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, OVER THE 45 YEARS, AS WE SPOKE, WITH NO CHANGE IN THE LAND USE, THIS LAND WOULD GENERATE $300,000.
WITH THE PROPOSED SOLAR PROJECT, IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $18.6 MILLION.
UM, AND DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, WE'LL ALSO GENERATE ABOUT 240 JOBS, AND THOSE WOULD BE CONSTRUCTION TEMPORARY JOBS.
UM, THE PROPOSED LIFESPAN OF THIS PROJECT IS APPROXIMATELY 45 YEARS.
AND THERE ARE, AGAIN, AS, AS THE AREA IS MUCH LARGER THAN, UH, THE EQUIPMENT.
THE OTHER AREAS ARE USED FOR SETBACKS, VEGETATION TO, TO SCREEN THE PROJECT, WETLAND PROTECTION AREAS, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AREAS AS WE ARE, UH, PRESERVING SOME OF BATTLEFIELD AREAS.
UM, SO THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF THE SITE.
SO THE, THE FIRST CHANGE THAT WE'VE MADE, UM, WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED DILIGENTLY, UH, TRYING TO GET AS MUCH FEEDBACK FROM NUITY COMMUNITY.
UM, WE'VE MET WITH, UM, DIFFERENT FARMERS THAT WERE, WILL WILLING TO SPEAK WITH US, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND REALLY HOW WE CAN COEXIST WITH THE FARMING COMMUNITY.
UM, SO AS MENTIONED, UM, THE APPLICATION THAT WAS BEFORE YOU ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, UM, 160 ACRES, UM, FARMLAND WAS PROPOSED FOR SOLAR.
UH, WE SINCE THEN REDUCED IT TO 90 ACRES.
AND THE, THE LATEST, UH, CHANGES ACTUALLY 30 ACRES.
AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO REDUCE THAT FURTHER.
UM, WE JUST CAN'T AT THIS STAGE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE STATE LEVEL PERMITS, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO NOT IMPACT ANY LAND THAT IS CURRENTLY USED IN AGRICULTURE.
IF WE DO END UP USING ANY OF THAT 30 ACRES, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO WORK WITH THE FARMER THAT WE ARE DISPLACING, UM, AND REPLACE THAT LAND AT ONE TO ONE RATIO.
AS, AS YOU'VE SEEN FROM THE PROJECT, WE HAVE SEVERAL AREAS THAT WE'RE, UM, NOT USING FOR SOLAR.
WE WOULD WORK WITH THAT FARMER TO ONE TO ONE RATIO, UM, GIVE THAT LAND BACK TO THE LANDOWNER, TO THE FARMER, UM, THAT THEY COULD FARM AT NO COST.
WE WOULD CONVERT IT TO FARMING.
UM, WE WORK WITH THE AG EXTENSION AND THE FARMER TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THAT LAND IS PRODUCTIVE.
UM, SO THAT IS OUR COMMITMENT AND, UM, THAT'S ONE OF OUR PROPOSED CONDITIONS.
THE SECOND CHANGES, AND, UM, I KNOW IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, UH, UH, MAINTAINING RURAL CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, I, I VIVIDLY REMEMBER A CONVERSATION ABOUT SCREENING.
UM, NOTHING HAS CHANGED APART FROM CERTAIN AREAS THAT WE REMOVED THAT WERE IN AGRICULTURE.
THEY HAD NO SCREENING, NO EXISTING VEGETATION.
WE ACTUALLY REMOVED THOSE AREAS.
SO RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 90% OF THE PROPERTY LINES, UM, ARE COVERED IN MATURE VEGETATION.
UM, AND ONLY ABOUT 10% OF THE PROPERTY LINES REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PLANTING, UH, WHICH OF CO OF COURSE WE WILL DO.
WE'VE, UM, WE'VE DONE ADDITIONAL, UM, VIEW ANALYSIS AND AREAS THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT VEGETATION.
WE'RE PROPOSING TO PLANT EVERGREEN SPECIES TO SCREEN THE PROJECT.
THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES FOUR FOOT TALL TREES AT PLANTING.
WE'RE HAPPY TO PROPOSE, AND THAT IS PART OF OUR CONDITIONS TO EXCEED THAT BY 50%.
SO WE'RE COMMITTING TO, UM, VEGETATION
[00:50:01]
THAT'S SIX FEET TALL AT THE TIME OF PLANTING.UM, AND AS PART OF OUR CONDITIONS, WE'RE COMMITTING TO SCREENING THE PROJECT.
WE'RE NOT COMMITTING TO PLANTING THE TREES.
SO IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT ARE REQUIRED, ADDITIONAL VEGETATION BERMS, WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE THAT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT'S TO THE COMMUNITY.
IN TERMS OF THE EXISTING VEGETATION, THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES SETBACKS OF 75 FEET.
UM, THAT IS THE SECOND, UH, POINT THAT WE'VE, UH, FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO WE VOLUNTARILY DECIDED TO DOUBLE THE SETBACKS TO 150 FEET.
UM, WE HAVE A VERY SHORT VIDEO THAT WE'RE GOING TO ATTEND TO PLAY.
UM, AND WHAT I WANTED TO SHOW HERE IS IN OUR EXISTING PROJECT IN APPOMATTOX COUNTY, UH, THE VIDEO WILL START AT EYE LEVEL VIEW.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE HOW EXISTING VEGETATION CAN EFFECTIVELY SCREEN A SOLAR PROJECT.
UM, AND IT WILL, WE, WE HAVE A DRONE THAT WILL KIND OF LIFT UP, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PROJECT IS ACTUALLY THERE, BUT THIS IS WHAT MAJORITY OF LILY POND WILL LOOK LIKE.
AND ONE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE, WHAT YOU SEE IS THESE SETBACKS ARE 50 FEET.
LILY POND PROPOSES THREE TIMES THAT AMOUNT, SO 150 FEET.
UM, SO AS YOU CAN TELL, IT'S ONLY IF, IF YOU GO ABOVE WITH THE DRONE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PROJECT IS ACTUALLY THERE.
UM, SO THIS SWITCHING BACK TO LILY POND, JUST DEPICTING THAT, THAT EXISTING VEGETATION, UM, SO AS YOU CAN SEE, ORIENTING US ON THE MAP ON THE LEFT, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FROM REAMS DRIVE SOUTH INTO THE PROJECT.
AND ON THE RIGHT, UM, AGAIN, WITH THE DRONE, WE'RE TRYING TO DEPICT HOW FAR, UH, FROM THE ROAD THAT IS.
UM, AND SO ABOUT WHERE THAT GREEN VEGETATION IS, THAT'S WHERE OUR PROJECT STARTS.
UM, AND I KNOW BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE PROJECT, THERE ARE PRIVATE PROPERTIES.
SO AGAIN, THERE'S 150 FEET OF SETBACK WITH A HUNDRED FEET OF EXISTING TREE LINE THAT WILL BE MAINTAINED TO ALSO SCREEN THIS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
UM, AGAIN, LAST TIME WE'RE HERE, WE'VE HAD MANY MORE RENDERINGS, BUT THIS TIME SINCE THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE REMOVED FROM THE PROJECT WERE THE AREAS WHERE WE HAD TO PLANT ADDITIONAL VEGETATION.
UM, WE'VE INCLUDED THIS JUST AS, UM, YOU KNOW, A, A SIMPLE DEPICTION OF PLANTING OF ADDITIONAL VEGETATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.
UM, SO AGAIN, THIS IS AT LEAST TWO ROWS OF EVERGREENS FAST GROWING SPECIES, UM, AT SIX FEET TALL AT PLANTING.
UM, ADDITIONAL PROJECT FEATURES.
SO THIS IS EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS, UM, APPLICATION, UM, PRESERVATION OF NATURAL HABITAT.
UM, SO AS WE DISCUSSED, IT'S 1900 ACRES, BUT THE FACILITIES ARE ONLY ON 500 ACRES.
SO THERE'S PLENTY OF NATURAL AREAS THAT ARE GONNA BE MAINTAINED.
UM, I KNOW AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST IS HERE TONIGHT.
UM, WE'VE SPOKEN WITH THEM BEFORE IN THE PREVIOUS APPLICATION, AND I WANNA ASSURE THEM THAT IS STILL THE PLAN.
UM, THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS OF OUR PROJECT THAT ARE WITHIN CORE BATTLEFIELD AREAS, REM STATION, WOODEN PLANK, UH, HATERS RUN.
WE ARE NOT PROPOSING TO LOCATE THE PROJECT ON CORE BATTLEFIELD AREAS.
WE ARE IMPACTING SOME OF THE STUDY AREAS.
AND SO WITH THAT, WE DECIDED TO, UM, PUT 69 ACRES OF SOME CORE AREAS, UM, INTO THE PRESERVATION SO THAT IT CAN BE PRESERVED AND, UM, USED FOR MALCOLM AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST.
UM, ENHANCED POLLINATOR ACTIVITY.
SO THIS HAS BEEN, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN IMPLEMENTING ACROSS ALL OF OUR PROJECTS IN VIRGINIA.
UH, POLLINATOR PLANTING MIXES, WORKING WITH LOCAL BEEKEEPERS, UH, TO, UM, PLACE POLLINATORS ON SITE.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS UNDERWAY, UH, THAT ARE ACTUALLY STARTING THE POLLINATOR PLANTINGS.
AND THE SAME WILL BE PROPOSED FOR LILY POND, UM, IN ADDITION OF WILDLIFE CROSSINGS.
UM, THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE, 1900 ACRES.
THAT'S A LOT OF LAND TO FENCE IN.
SO INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, WE, WE HAVE BROKEN DOWN THE ARRAYS INTO SEPARATE SECTIONS, AND WE'RE COMMITTING TO FENCING THEM SEPARATELY, UH, SO THAT, UM, THE SETBACKS AND THE WETLAND
[00:55:01]
AREAS AND OTHER, UM, AREAS ARE GONNA REMAIN UNENCUMBERED AND AVAILABLE TO THE WILDLIFE, UM, TO, UM, ALLOW THEM TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREAS.UM, ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR US IS THE, UH, DECOMMISSIONING.
UM, SO AS DISCUSSED, WE WILL PROVIDE DECOMMISSIONING PLAN, UM, THAT WILL REALLY DETAILED HOW THE REMOVAL OF THE PROJECT, UH, WILL TAKE PLACE.
UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE WORK WITH FIRST SOLAR, WHO, UM, HAS NOT ONLY MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN OHIO, BUT THAT'S WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR RECYCLING FACILITY.
UH, WE ACTUALLY HAD, UM, SOME PANELS DAMAGED DURING CONSTRUCTION ON OUR MOUNT JACKSON PROJECT, AND THEY WERE SHIPPED BACK TO FIRST SOLAR FOR RECYCLING.
AND WHEN WE SAY RECYCLING, WE ALSO MEAN REUSE.
SO 90% OF A SOLAR PANEL IS TURNED TO NEW SEMICONDUCTOR.
THAT SEMICONDUCTOR ONE KILOGRAM CAN BE, UH, RECYCLED 41 TIMES.
UH, THE GLASS IN THE SOLAR PANELS IS REUSED.
UM, ONE, UM, BUYER OF, UM, THAT MATERIAL IS, UM, I'M SURE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE PAINT ON THE ROAD THAT HAS THE REFLECTIVE GLASS BEADS, UM, THAT COMES, UM, IN CERTAIN CASES FROM, FROM THE PANELS AND THE ADHESIVES ARE USED FOR RUBBER PRODUCTS SUCH AS BUY CANDLES AND SHOES.
SO, UH, MANY TIMES WE GET ASKED QUESTION, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THE SOLAR PANELS? THIS MANUFACTURER HAS A AVAILABLE RECYCLING PROGRAM.
UM, THE RESTORATION OF THE SITE WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO ALLOW FOR ANY OTHER USE.
UM, SO WHATEVER THE, THE LANDOWNERS PLAN IS AFTER THE SOLAR PROJECT.
UM, I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY IS, OF COURSE OUR BUSINESS IS SELLING POWER.
WE'RE PLANNING TO BE AROUND, UM, FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN.
UM, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO OUR COMPANY, UH, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A DECOMMISSIONING SURETY TO THE COUNTY.
UM, IT WILL BE, THE COST OF THAT WILL BE ASSESSED BY A THIRD PARTY ENGINEER AND TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THE COSTS ARE CURRENT EVERY FIVE YEARS, THAT DECOMMISSIONING ESTIMATE WILL BE UPDATED TO ENSURE THAT WE STAY CURRENT ON THE COSTS WE HAVE.
UM, SO THIS IS THE, UM, RECYCLING FACILITY THAT WE ACTUALLY VISITED IN OHIO.
UM, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT THEY ESTABLISHED ACTUALLY FAIRLY EARLY ON IN 2005.
AND THE, UM, FIRST FLOOR COMPANY IS ACTUALLY OPENING A, UH, SECOND FACILITY IN THE US UM, IN ALABAMA.
UM, I'M GOING TO TRY TO CLICK.
UM, SO HERE'S JUST A REALLY BRIEF COMPARISON.
AS I MENTIONED, OF OF THE REVENUES, UM, OVER 45 YEARS, LILY BOND SOLAR WOULD PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY $18.6 MILLION TO THE COUNTY, UM, WITHOUT USING ANY INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDING INVESTMENT, UM, IN SCHOOLS.
UM, SO IT, IT'S REALLY A NET POSITIVE FOR THE COUNTY BUDGET.
UM, ONE OF THE LAST POINTS WE, UH, WANTED TO MAKE IS, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WE, UH, GET QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, UM, THE LAND USE.
WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVES THAT, UM, OTHER USES THAT COULD GO ON THIS PROPERTY WITH THIS BEING ZONED? UM, AGRICULTURE, UM, RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION IS ONE THAT COMES TO MIND.
SO FOR PROPERTY OF THIS SIZE, UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH, UM, AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT.
THEY, UM, THEY ACTUALLY WORK ON REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
UM, SO LAND OF THIS SIZE, GIVEN THE THE COUNTY CODE, UM, WOULD BE IN THEORY, UH, ABLE TO, UM, HOST 72 HOMES.
[01:00:01]
TAKING SOME AVERAGES FROM THE COUNTY.UH, IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW HOW MANY SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ARE PER HOUSEHOLD INGENUITY, UM, THAT COMES TO ABOUT, UM, 25, UM, CHILDREN THAT WOULD GO TO SCHOOLS.
SO WHILE THE TAXES AND THE REVENUES FROM, UH, THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $161,000 A YEAR, IF WE FACTOR IN ALL THE COUNTY SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO ACCOMMODATE THAT, UM, THAT WOULD BE, UH, $195,000.
SO, UM, IF WE THINK ABOUT OTHER DEVELOPMENTS, UM, THAT COULD GO ON THIS PROPERTY, UM, RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WOULD ACTUALLY YIELD NEGATIVE, UH, FISCAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY BUDGET.
UH, AND UM, I THINK LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, AS I MENTIONED, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR TWO YEARS.
UM, WE'VE REALLY, IN THE LAST YEAR GEARING UP FOR THIS APPLICATION, UH, WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, EXTEND OUR OUTREACH, INFORM PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY ABOUT THE PROJECT, GATHER THE FEEDBACK.
SO WE'VE HOSTED SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UH, AT RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE, THE ENHANCEMENT, UM, CENTER.
WE'VE SENT DIRECT MAIL TO ALL THE PROJECT NEIGHBORS, UM, NOT ONLY ADJACENT, BUT ALSO IN THE VICINITY.
UM, WE HAVE A DEDICATED PROJECT, WEBSITE AND EMAIL ADDRESS WHERE, UM, THE PUBLIC CAN CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION OR COMMENTS.
UH, WE'VE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
SO WE, UM, ON THE STATE LEVEL, WE'VE SPOKEN WITH FARM BUREAU, BUT WE'VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH THE AG EXTENSION, SEEING HOW WE CAN NOT ONLY ACCOMMODATE THAT, UM, ADDING BACK 30 ACRES, UM, OF FARM OF FARMING LAND, UM, BUT ALSO ANY PARTICIPATION IN FOUR H EDUCATIONAL, UH, FARMING PRACTICES IN THE COUNTY.
UM, WE'VE MET WITH RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE.
WE'RE EXPLORING DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, UM, SCHOLARSHIPS, ALLOWING THEM TO, UM, TO, TO LEARN ABOUT SOLAR THROUGH OUR PROJECT.
UM, AND, UM, PARTICIPATION IN ANCHOR COMMUNITY EVENTS, WHICH WE'VE, UM, WITH MY COWORKERS, UM, ATTENDED THE, UH, DUNWOODY COUNTY FAIR WHERE WE ALSO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE PROJECT, UM, RICHARD BLAND GOLF TOURNAMENT, THE PECAN FESTIVAL.
UM, WE'VE ALSO MET WITH, AS I MENTIONED, UM, A GROUP OF LOCAL FARMERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ABOUT THE PROJECT.
UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY ALSO INTRODUCE, UH, A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE THAT MAY BE HELPING ME WITH ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
UH, SO WE HAVE SHAMA LOW WITH KIMMY HORNE, UH, WHO'S OUR ENGINEERING CONSULTANT.
UH, SHE'S BEEN WORKING DAY TO DAY ON THE PROJECT AND HAS BEEN, UH, HAS SPENT MANY DAYS IN DEITY COUNTY.
UH, WE HAVE, UM, SCOTT FOSTER WITH GENTRY LUCK, OUR LAND USE ATTORNEY, UM, AND UM, I KNOW WE HAVE ALSO A FEW OF OUR LANDOWNER HERE TONIGHT, SO THANK YOU.
I GUESS DO, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, WHILE SHE IS AT THE PODIUM? YES, SIR.
YEAH, I CAN MR. DREWRY, HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THE WORD SHALL AND MUST LEGALLY AND WHAT'S BINDING ISN'T MUST BINDING MORE SO THAN SHALL WHAT? GO AHEAD.
WE DON'T USE THE MUST
SO YOU GOT A SPECIFIC WELL, I, I WAS JUST READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT IT AND THAT'S WHAT I GOT OUT OF IT.
THAT, I MEAN, THEY USE THE WORD MUST IS THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT.
MR. FOSTER CAN BACK ME UP ON THIS AND I MAY, IT, IT'S, IT TYPICALLY IN THE VIRGINIA CODE THEY USE SHALL WAS WHEN YOU BETTER DO IT THAN IN MAY WHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN DO WHAT THEY CONSIDER IT.
SO SHALL IS STILL YOU GOTTA DO IT.
'CAUSE IT WAS CONFLICTING TO THE ARTICLE I READ.
WELL, I'M, I'M SURE NO PROBLEM.
I'M SURE MUST MEANS THE SHALL, BUT IT, I DON'T THINK THAT'S USED THE VIRGINIA CODE TOO MUCH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
UM, DID YOU GIVE MUCH, UM, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK WHEN YOU SAID YOU HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS? WELL, I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE DEFINE AS MUCH.
WE'VE MET WITH, UM, THE MEETING WITH LOCAL FARMERS.
THERE WERE 10 PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED THAT.
UM, AND THE, UM, DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS, SO THE RICHER BLAND, UM, AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER EVENTS, I THINK WE HAD ABOUT 10 PEOPLE.
UM, AT SOME POINT WE STARTED HAVING THESE EVENTS.
THE SAME PEOPLE WERE, WERE SHOWING UP.
AND AT THE COUNTY FAIR, I THINK WE'VE SPOKEN WITH ABOUT 60, 70 PEOPLE.
[01:05:01]
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MINIMIZING THE, UH, THE USE OF FARMLAND.UH, I GENERALLY CONSIDER FARMLAND TO BE CONSIDERED FORESTRY AND CROP LAND, BUT I DON'T, ARE YOU CONSIDERING FARMLAND TO BE FORESTRY, I MEAN TREES AS WELL? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UH, WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT IS WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN, UM, FARMING OPERATIONS SUCH AS CROPS, SO NOT, UM, ECONOMICS.
SO YOU'RE, YOU'LL STILL BE, UH, CUTTING DOWN A LOT OF TREES? YES, SIR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE START THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THIS NOW HAVE TIME FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THESE CASES.
THIS KIND OF GETS US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, UH, ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING COMMENT TIME IS PROVIDED FOR CITIZENS TO HAVE THEIR VIEWS HEARD.
YOUR COMMENTS DURING THIS TIME MUST BE CONFINED TO THE MATTER OR CASE THAT IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE CUMULATIVE OR REPETITIVE.
YOU'RE ASKED TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION WITH DECORUM, LIE, DISRUPTIVE OR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS TO INCLUDE IT OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE SHALL BE AVOIDED.
ALSO, AVOID WORDS OR TENDING TO EVOKE VIOLENCE OR ARE DEEMED TO BE A BREACH OF THE PEACE.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TIME IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD OR TIME FOR DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMISSION STAFF.
BASICALLY, THIS IS A TIME FOR YOU TO MAKE, TO GIVE US INFORMATION AND TO MAKE YOUR VIEWS HEARD.
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT MANY CASES THAT COME BEFORE US, UH, DO A, UH, EVOKE A LOT OF EMOTION BECAUSE YOU, SOME OF YOU HAVE A LOT AT STAKE AND FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT YOUR VIEWPOINT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALL HAVE, WE MEANING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SPEAK HAVE DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS AND WE NEED TO RESPECT THAT.
AND I HOPE OUR COMMENTS WILL BE, UH, CONFINED TO THE FACTS ABOUT THE CASE AND NOT PERSONALITIES.
SO, MR. GURLEY, UH, WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE SIGNED UP, I ASSUME.
YES, MR. CHAIR, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE BEFORE I START THAT I CAN GET THE CLOCK.
AGAIN, THIS WILL BE, UH, THREE MINUTES PER UH, CASE.
IF YOU, UH, IF YOU WANT TO DEFINE WHAT CASE ARE YOU ARE REFERRING TO, THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, ALRIGHT, SO, I'M SORRY, MR. CHAIR.
SO NEXT, UH, FIRST SPEAKER IS, ALRIGHT,
ALRIGHT, MR. TIMOTHY, UH, IS THAT, UM, MR. TIMOTHY, UM, B-U-Y-A-L-O-S, IS THAT CORRECT? BLI BUIS.
AND, UH, IF YOU'LL JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
TIM BUAS, UH, I LIVE AT 26 7 29 PERKINS ROAD, NORTH DE WHITTY.
UH, WE'RE IN THE AREA OF THE SOLAR PANEL CONSTRUCTIONS AND ALL.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, NUMBER ONE, I DON'T
THIS PROJECT DOES NOT NEED TO BE HERE.
WHAT WE HAVE IS ON STATE ROUTE 6 0 5 BETWEEN HALIFAX AND, UH, CAN'T THINK OF THE OTHER ROAD.
WE HAVE A HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES ACROSS THE ROAD THREE TIMES JUST IN THAT FOUR MILE SECTION.
ALL THIS POWER IS HIDDEN TO A SUBSTATION.
WE HAVE THE CARSON CARSON SUBSTATION.
THIS SUBSTATION IS THE EIGHTH LARGEST IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
UM, IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF DOMINION ENERGIES POWER COMING IN INTO THE STATE.
POWELL COMES FROM ROANOKE RAPIDS, THE DAMS THERE, UM, FROM CLOVER STATION IN HALIFAX COUNTY, THE TWO GAS FIRED STATIONS THAT ARE IN GREENSVILLE COUNTY.
ALL THEM COMING INTO THIS ONE STATION.
UH, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS STATION? AFTER NINE 11, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY CAME IN AND THIS, UH, SUBSTATION
[01:10:01]
HAS, UH, MILITARY GRADE FENCING AROUND IT THAT YOU CAN'T SHOOT THROUGH.UH, IT HAS CAMERAS ON IT, IT HAS TOUCH THINGS THAT, THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THE STATION IS.
THAT'S WHAT'S ELECTRICALLY IN A ALL PART OF THE COUNTY.
UH, I JUST, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF ELECTRICITY GOING THROUGH, UH, THAT END OF THE COUNTY.
IF YOU'RE ON SOUTH SIDE ELECTRIC DOMINION ENERGY, PRINCE GEORGE COOPERATIVE, THIS, THE POWER COMES FROM THIS STATION HERE TO FEED THOSE LOCATIONS.
THIS STATION'S SO BIG, IT HAS ITS OWN RAILROAD ROADS SPUR OFF OF CX X TRACKS GOING INTO THE STATION.
UH, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S THERE ALREADY.
SECOND OF ALL, A STORMWATER RUNOFF.
AND I'M NOT NO FAN OF 1,891 ACRES TO BE BUILT ON TOP OF ME FOOD, STORM WATER RUNOFF.
I WORK ON THE RUWAN CREEK JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY, PROBABLY STARTING TOMORROW BECAUSE WE'LL START IRRIGATING STRAWBERRIES TOMORROW.
AND WHAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS WITH STORM WATER RUNOFF COMING ALL THE WAY FROM THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
AND THAT INCLUDES, UH, HATCHERY RUN ALL THE SWAMP GRAVEL, RUN ALL THESE FEED INTO A WALNUT CREEK BEHIND OUR HOUSE.
THE, TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF WHAT I MEAN BY STOLEN, WHERE A RUNOFF IS, IF WE HAVE A THUNDERSTORM IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTY, UM, IN THE AFTERNOON ABOUT SIX O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON THE CREEK, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER FOOT OF WATER.
THAT'S HOW MUCH STORM WITH THE RUNOFF WE HAVE FROM THIS PART OF THE COUNTY DOWN THAT WAY.
WHAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHAT STORM WATER RUNOFF IS, IF IT'S ANY HIGHWAY, ROADWAY, PARKING LOT BUILDING.
SO IT, ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PUT OUT THERE THAT CAUSED THE STORM WATER TO RUN OFF, UM, THE WORST WE'VE SEEN, WE HAD THE WETTEST YEAR IN 2022, I MEAN 2020 IN JANUARY OF 2021.
UM, ME AND MY WIFE WERE HARVESTING CABBAGE IN COLLEGE FOR A GOVERNMENT PROJECT.
AND I ASKED HER WHAT SAID, WHAT'S THAT NOISE? AND SHE SAID, WELL, SHE SAYS, IT'S THE CREEK.
SHE SAYS, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN ACROSS THE BRIDGE.
OUR CREEK IS NORMALLY 30 FOOT WIDE.
IT WAS RUNNING, IT WAS 50 FOOT WIDE AT EIGHT 10 MILE AN HOUR CURRENT.
ONE OF OUR LABS THAT WE HAVE THAT THE FAMILY HAS, UH, GOT INTO THE WATER AND HE WAS WISHING DOWN ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET BEFORE HE GET OUT THAT STORM WATER RUNOFF.
ANOTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS, IS WITH THE FOOD SAFETY.
WE HAVE TO ATTEND PROJECTS ALL OVER THE STATE AND SCHOOL SEMINARS TO DEAL WITH FOOD SAFETY.
ONE OF THE THINGS, BIGGEST THING IS BACTERIA IN THE WATER.
AND A LOT OF THAT'S CAUSED BY WILDLIFE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DISPLACE ALL THIS WILDLIFE FROM THAT 1,891 ACRES, IT'S GOTTA GO SOMEWHERE.
SO IT'S COMING TO MY HOUSE AND IT'S JUST GOING TO MAKE OUR OPERATION NOT, NOT ACCEPTABLE TO USE THE CREEK ANYMORE BECAUSE THE BACTERIA CAN GO THAT HIGH IN THE CREEK.
BUT I'M, I'M JUST NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT AT ALL.
ANOTHER THING, UH, DISCUSSED WITH THEM IS, IS A TEMPERATURE RISE AROUND ONE OF THESE FACILITIES.
I HAVEN'T REALLY GOT ANY HARD FACTS THINGS, BUT ONE STUDY DONE IN ARISTON, LUNA STATE UNIVERSITY SAID THAT THEY, THE TEMPERATURE RISE AROUND IN THE AREA COULD RISE ANYWHERE FROM 1.5 TO 23 DEGREES.
WHY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS A FARMER IS AT 95 DEGREES, IT AFFECTS YOUR POLLINATION.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEES, IT WON'T WORK.
THAT'S THE CUTOFF FOR CORN AND BEAMS. SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT A MASSIVE SIZE SPOT LIKE THIS.
[01:15:01]
IT JUST, I CAN'T SEE IT HAPPENING.THE PROJECT IS PROJECTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AROUND THE STATE.
LOUISA COUNTY IS ONE WHERE DEQS GONNA RUBBERSTAMP THESE THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE PERMISSION.
IF YOU GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO BILL, THEY'RE GONNA GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO COME IN HERE AND BUILD.
AND NORMALLY HOW THIS RUNS IS, AS IN LOUISA COUNTY, THEY ENDED UP THE LAND ADJACENT LANDOWNERS, ENDED UP SUING BOTH DEQ AND DOMINION ENERGY OVER THE PROJECT FOR STORMWATER RUNOFF.
UH, NORMALLY, UH, DE COURSE DEQ SAYS, NO, THEY DIDN'T DO WHAT WE TOLD 'EM TO DO.
AND THEY FINE DOMINION ENERGY $31,000 FOR THAT EVENT.
NORMALLY WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS DEALING WITH DEQ WHEN I USED TO WORK IN AN INDUSTRIAL, UH, THING, IT, UH, INDUSTRIAL JOB THAT I WORKED AT, THE, THESE COMPANIES NEVER REALLY PAY THAT, BUT THEY'LL PROBABLY PAY $2 MILLION TO CORRECT THAT FAULT THAT THEY DID.
BUT IF YOU THINK YOU COULD WAIT FOR DEQ TO GIVE YOU DIRECTIONS, Y'ALL NEED TO HELP HIRE A COUNSELING, NOT A COUNSELING SERVICE, BUT A CONSULTANT SERVICE TO, UH, LOOK AT THE STORM WATER RUNOFF.
I DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO PUT IT ON THE SCREEN.
WOULD Y'ALL LIKE A COPY OF IT? THIS IS BY HOUSE.
IF WE, WE'LL BE GLAD, UH, YOU GOT THIS ONE COPY.
THIS IS THE FLOOD ZONE ON OUR, THIS PUT OUT BY FINGER.
THAT THEY HAD COME OUT WITH, OKAY.
AND THAT SHOWED YOU HOW MUCH THIS DOES NOT SHOW AS FAR AS SOUTH TO CAUTION ROAD, WHAT THESE IS EVEN A LOT LARGER AREA.
WITH NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
BILL LESTER, 1 49 0 2 BRICK ROAD.
WELL, I LIVE ON BRICK ROAD AND A LARGE PORTION OF THIS IS GONNA AFFECT BRICK ROAD.
I HEARD THE TERM NET ZERO IMPACT A NUMBER OF TIMES.
UH, HOW CAN YOU PROVE THAT TO ME OVER 45 YEARS? IT'S GONNA BE A NET ZERO IMPACT.
I DIDN'T, MAYBE I, I WASN'T LISTENING CAREFULLY ENOUGH, BUT I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE PRESENTATION.
SECOND THING, I, I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE BATTLEFIELD BOUNDARIES LETTER IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF THIS.
UH, YOU SAID YOU HAD A LETTER? YES.
IS THAT GONNA BE MADE TO, UH, TO THE PUBLIC? THAT WOULD BE IN, IN THE, UH, UH, MINUTES OF THE MEETING, IS THAT CORRECT? IT WILL.
THAT WILL BE PLACED IN MINUTES.
NOW 150 FEET, NOT A WHOLE LOT FURTHER THAN THIS WALL TO THIS WALL.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE WANT TO HAVE THOSE PANELS 150 FEET FROM THEIR PROPERTY.
UH, THE FOURTH THING, UH, YOU SAID YOU HAD A BOND THAT'S GONNA MAINTAIN THE LANDSCAPING FOR 45 YEARS, RIGHT? WE DON'T KNOW.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.
YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOMETHING YOU'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF FOR 45 YEARS? I, I, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
UH, YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS COMPANY'S GONNA BE, IT'S A LLC.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS COMPANY'S GONNA BE VIABLE THEN OR NOT.
AND THEN, UH, UH, UH, THIS, UH, DO YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THESE PANELS ARE, ARE GONNA LAST THAT LONG? THAT WAS IN THE PRESENTATION.
THE, THE NET ZERO IMPACT WAS WHAT BOTHERED ME, UH, LIVING ON HALIFAX ROAD.
[01:20:01]
THESE PANELS BACKING UP TO MY PROPERTY AND I'M AGAINST THIS PROJECT.I LIVE AT 1 5 6 2 8 BRICK ROAD IN CARSON.
I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT PROGRESS IS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
OUR COMMUNITY WISHES TO PROGRESS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE ALL WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR LIVING SITUATION REMAINS SAFE AND IS A DESIRABLE PLACE FOR US TO LIVE FOR US, OUR CHILDREN, AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
THE DIRECTION WE GO WITH SOLAR FARMS COULD BE A BIG DETERMINATION OF THIS.
WILL THIS BE OUR VISION OF CONTINUING THIS QUALITY OF LIFE? WILL THIS HAPPEN? IT HAS BEEN A REAL EDUCATION, RESEARCHING THE POSS POSSIBILITIES OF SOLAR FARMS COMING INTO OUR COUNTY.
IT FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN WAGING AND ADVERTISING WAR ON US, TOUTING CLEAN ENERGY, THROWING OUT THE NUMBERS OF JOBS FOR THE COMMUNITY, PUTTING UP THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR LAND LEASES AND OPTIONS ON KEEPING THOSE LAND LEASES OPEN AND MANY PROMISES FOR THE FUTURE.
LET'S LOOK AT FAR SOLAR FARMS. LARGE TRACKS OF LAND ARE ALWAYS NEEDED.
THIS WILL ALTER, ALTER THE LANDSCAPING DRASTICALLY.
IT WILL DISRUPT THE LOCAL HABITAT.
IT'S ALTERING THE PRODUCTIVE FARM LAND AND ELIMINATING WOODLANDS THAT HELP TO CLEAN THE AIR PRODUCTIVITY.
SOLAR FARMS ARE DEPENDENT ON THE SUNLIGHT, SO THEY MAY BE PRODUCING ENERGY PERHAPS 30% OF THE TIME.
THIS DOES NOT SOUND VERY EFFICIENT TO ME.
THERE IS NO WAY TO RAMP UP PRODUCTION WHEN WE NEED IT.
THE ONLY WAY IS TO PUT IN MORE SOLAR FARMS. AND WHAT ABOUT THE WILDLIFE? THEY WILL BE DISTURBED.
THERE WAS A SOLAR FARM PUT OUT IN CALIFORNIA, THE IVAN PA SOLAR FARM.
IT HAD A DRASTIC EFFECT ON SHOREBIRDS.
THEY RECORDED 6,000 OF THEM THAT DIED THERE.
DECOMMISSIONING OF THE SOLAR PANELS IS A BIG PROBLEM.
MOST OF THE SOLAR PANELS HAVE BEEN HAVING AN OPERATING LIFE OF 20 TO 30 YEARS SINCE THEY WERE FIRST INTRODUCED IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.
TONS OF SOLAR PANELS ARE NOW REACHING THE END OF THEIR LIFE.
THESE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE HEAVY METALS IN SOLAR PANELS, NAMELY THE LEAD AND CADMIUM, CAN LEACH OUT OF THE CELLS AND CONTAMINATE GROUNDWATER.
THESE METALS HAVE A RECORD FOR DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH.
THE PROBLEM COULD WORSEN IN THE COMING DECADES WITH ALMOST 80 MILLION TONS OF SOLAR WASTE IN THE US PROJECTED BY 2050.
WE ARE REACHING THAT POINT WHERE A MASSIVE REPLACEMENT OF SOLAR PANELS MUST HAPPEN.
AND WHAT IF THE SOLAR FARMS SHUT DOWN? WHAT IF THEY BECOME SO OUTDATED THAT THE INVESTMENT IS TOO GREAT TO KEEP IT GOING? HOW MUCH MONEY WILL IT TAKE TO REMOVE THESE? HOW MUCH TIME WILL IT TAKE TO REGENERATE THE FARMLANDS AND REGROW THE FORESTS? OR DO WE KNOW IF THAT IS EVEN POSSIBLE? THERE'S JUST TOO MANY QUESTIONS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, FAYE DUNAWAY.
I LIVE AT 26 5 10 REAMS DRIVE.
UM, THANKS FOR LETTING US SPEAK TONIGHT SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR OUR THOUGHTS AROUND THIS.
UM, AND I DO HAVE SOME DIFFERING DEFINITIONS OF NET ZERO.
[01:25:02]
DEFINITIONS OF WHAT NOT IMPACTING FARMLAND MEANS TO US WHO LIVE IN THE COUNTY, AND ALSO IMPACTS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING AND OTHER STATES ARE DOING.AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET BROADER THAN JUST LOOKING AT DENWITTY COUNTY TO REALIZE THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS GONNA HAVE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE, THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE AND IN WORKING WITH THIS GROUP.
BUT I THINK THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
UM, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND, UH, IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME, I HAVE SOME ERRONEOUS DATA.
WELL, GIVE ME TIME TO FIND OUT WHAT IS IN ERROR AND GIVE ME TIME FOR YOU GUYS TO MAYBE SHARE WHAT'S IN YOUR PACKETS.
I KEPT HEARING IT REFERENCED OVER AND OVER TONIGHT.
YOU HAVE MAPS, YOU HAVE, UM, LOTS OF THINGS WITHIN YOUR PACKETS.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
AND I THINK IT'S WRONG TO MOVE FORWARD IF YOUR CITIZENS AREN'T AS EDUCATED AS YOU ARE ABOUT WHAT'S COMING ACROSS THE ROAD FROM ME.
I AM WORRIED ABOUT, UH, THE IMPACT TO THE LAND.
ONCE SOLAR IS NO LONGER THE NEXT GREATEST THING TO DO, IS THAT LAND RECOVERABLE OR IT OR WILL IT BE TERMED JUST DIRTY DIRT THAT WE CAN'T USE ANYMORE? THAT'S A HUGE IMPACT TO OUR COUNTY, AND WE SHOULDN'T BE FACED WITH THAT AND NOT HAVING TO LOOK AT IT EVERY DAY.
UM, I KEEP HEARING ABOUT ASURITY BONDS AND ALL THESE PROTECTIONS, AND YET I HAVEN'T SEEN THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF THAT IN THE INTERFACING WITH YOUR PARTNER FOR SOLAR, I THINK IS THE NAME OF THE CORPORATION.
WE WANT TO SEE SOME REAL LIVE EXAMPLES OF HOW THAT WORKS.
HOW'S THAT SURETY BOND WORKING FOR OTHERS? HOW'S THE DECOMMISSIONING WORKING FOR OTHERS? BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS, INFORMATION WE'RE GETTING, IT'S DETRIMENTAL.
AND NOT JUST FOR A YEAR, BUT FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
PLEASE DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN TO DEWINE COUNTY.
I LOVE DEWINE COUNTY, AND I'M A NEWBIE.
I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE 60 YEARS, BUT I CARE ABOUT DEWITTE COUNTY.
WE CHOSE DEWITTE COUNTY TO LIVE IN BECAUSE WE LOVE IT.
SO I PLEAD WITH YOU DON'T DO THIS IN A HURRIED FASHION.
AND I BEG TO DIFFER THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
'CAUSE I'M TELLING YOU ON REAMS DRIVE, AND WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF IT.
ONE SIDE, IF YOU HAVE LAND BACKING UP TO THIS PROPERTY, THEN YOU GOT NOTIFIED THE REST OF THE PEOPLE ON REAMS DRIVE DIDN'T GET THAT NOTIFICATION.
GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE OURSELVES.
GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON BASED AROUND THESE MAPS.
AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF YOU GOTTA COVER IT UP THAT MUCH, SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH IT.
SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME EXPRESS MY OPINION.
SO I PRAY, PRAY THAT YOU THINK TWICE BEFORE ACTING QUICKLY ON THIS.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, IF MAY JUST INTERRUPT, JUST GIVE US THE NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I LIVE AT 1 26, 1 56 28 BRICK ROAD.
I THINK SOLAR IS GREAT AND WONDERFUL.
IF YOU WANNA PUT IT ON YOUR HOUSE OR IN YOUR YARD OR WHATEVER HAVE YOU.
I AM 100% AGAINST SOLAR FARMS. WHY IN THE WORLD ARE WE GOING TO TAKE GOOD PRODUCTIVE LAND? AND THAT IS CLEANING OUR AIR, FEEDING US AND, AND, AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING THAT MIGHT MAKE ENERGY 30% OF THE TIME.
SOMETHING YOU NEED TO ALSO THINK ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, NONE OF US ARE EXPERTS IN ALL THIS.
ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE, AND THEY'RE TELLING YOU THE EXPERT THING.
UM,
AND NOW LOOK AT THE POOR FARMERS WHO CAN'T EVEN GROW GRASS ON THEIR LAND.
WHAT SCARES ME A LOT ABOUT THESE PANELS FROM WHAT I'M READING, IS THESE PANELS HAVE SOME VERY TOXIC STUFF IN IT.
APPARENTLY WHEN I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE BEFORE, WHEN THEY CAME HERE LAST TIME, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR PANELS WERE NOT RECYCLED.
WELL, IF THEY'RE BEING RECHARGED, IT TELLS ME SOMETHING IS LEACHING
[01:30:01]
OUT OF THEM TO BE RECHARGED.AM I CORRECT OR INCORRECT? I'M NOT.
BUT, UH, AND WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS, UH, MATERIAL THEY PUT IN IT IS HIGHLY TOXIC TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS.
AND, UM, IT, IT JUST MAKES NO GOOD SENSE TO ME TO DO THIS.
BUT, AND, AND THE NEXT THING YOU NEED TO KNOW, AND IT'S HAPPENED IN EVERY COUNTY, ONCE YOU OPEN THE DOOR, THE FLOOD GATES ARE OPEN.
REMEMBER THAT? SO, AND, AND I LIKE THE PEOPLE.
THEY'RE NICE AS THEY CAN BE, BUT NONE OF THEM LIVE HERE.
NONE OF 'EM HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.
ALL THEY WANNA DO IS SELL IT TO YOU.
THEY DON'T HAVE IT ON THEIR HOUSE.
THEY DON'T HAVE IT ON THEIR APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
I LIVE AT 2 7 3 2 OH REAMS DRIVE NORTH D WITTY.
I HAVE LIVED IN DENWITTY FOR A GOOD LONG WHILE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO Y'ALL.
I HAVE NOT BEEN TO A LOT OF MEETINGS OR ANYTHING.
SO, UM, A NEWBIE AT THIS, YOU GENTLEMEN.
AS YOU CAN SEE, MY ADDRESS IS 2 7 3 2 0 REAMS DRIVE.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY PROPERTY TOUCHING ANY OF THIS LAND THAT'S GONNA BE USED, BUT I AM A MEMBER OF THE REAMS COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT IF YOU WERE TO DRIVE AROUND REAMS COMMUNITY, YOU WOULD FIND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE LAND THAT'S TOUCHING THIS PROJECT WOULD BE VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU GENTLEMEN ARE DOING.
SO IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD SEND IT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE REAMS COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING LAND, UH, TOUCHED BY THIS PROJECT.
IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU COULD, AS THIS GENTLEMAN BEHIND ME HAS ALREADY, UH, ADDRESSED, UM, THE RECLAMATION OF LAND.
HOW WILL THAT LOOK? WILL IT LOOK LIKE THE ICA PROJECT? 'CAUSE IT'S NOT VERY PRETTY DOWN ON THAT END OF THE COUNTY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU GENTLEMEN LIVE DOWN THERE OR NOT, BUT JUST RIDE THROUGH IT.
THE THIRD THING THAT I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS, UM, THEY CLAIM THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE $18.6 MILLION.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY.
AND I'M SURE DENWITTY COULD REALLY USE THIS $18.6 MILLION OVER 45 YEARS.
WELL, THAT AMOUNTS TO $413,000 A YEAR.
NOW THAT DOESN'T SOUND AS MUCH.
IT SOUNDS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT TO ME, BUT IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE 18.6 MILLION OVER 45 YEARS.
AND WITH THE WAY THAT THE COST OF LIVING IS, GOODNESS KNOWS WHAT IT WILL BE.
I LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I HAVE IS THAT I COME FROM A FAMILY THAT HAS LIVED IN DENWITTY COUNTY SINCE THE 17 HUNDREDS.
WE'D LOVE THIS COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY, OR WE WOULDN'T STILL BE HERE.
WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING UP AND THEY TOO ARE GONNA LOVE DENWITTY BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO STAY.
BUT WE WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO STAY IN A WONDERFUL STATE THAT IT IS.
DID I GET THAT CORRECT? CLIFTON? MR. DAYTON.
IS HE STILL WITH US? 2 6 5 0 9 REAMS DRIVE.
YOU, YOU GIVE US YOUR REAL NAME AND ADDRESS.
IT IS CLIFTON ORTON, 26 5 0 9 REAMS DRIVE.
AND THIS FIRST MEETING THAT I'VE ATTENDED, UM, ON THE REAMS UH, SIDE, UM, I'VE GOT 114 ACRES OF BORDERS.
THIS GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND IT ON THE BACKSIDE.
AND SO MY CONCERNS, UH, IS REALLY, UM, THREE MAJOR ONES.
UH, ONE OF COURSE IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PACK.
[01:35:01]
AREAS WHERE WATER WOULD COME THROUGH.UH, MY LAND OFF A RUNOFF COMING FROM THE, UH, THE BRANCHES AND ALL THIS FEEDS AND THE RUNOFF WOULD, UH, GO OFF OF IT.
THE OTHER THING OF IT IS THAT CONCERNS ME, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY SAY ANYTHING, BUT I MAY HAVE MIS UH, NOT HEARD IT, BUT THE WAY THE WEATHER PATTERNS ARE NOW, NOT ONLY THE, UH, LOT, WE HAVE LARGER AMOUNTS OF RAIN AT TIMES.
BUT IF YOU HAD A TORNADO AND THAT TORNADO CAME THROUGH THAT, WHERE ARE THE SOLAR PANELS GONNA END UP? AND SO, OKAY, I'VE GOT 114 ACRES IN THAT ONE BLOCK.
IF THOSE SOLAR PANELS ARE BROKE UP AND DISTRIBUTED OVER THAT, WHICH ARE GONNA GO SOMEWHERE, WHO'S GONNA CLEAN THAT UP? WHAT'S GOING TO LEAK FROM THOSE PANELS AND HOW ARE THEY GONNA KNOW THEY GOT IT ALL? AND THAT'S A MAJOR CONCERN TO ME BECAUSE ON THAT, IF I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT 114 ACRES, WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH IT? UH, THEY COULD SAY, WELL, WE GOT LIABILITY INSURANCE, LIABILITY INSURANCE SOUNDS WONDERFUL.
BUT WHEN YOU START DOING THAT OVER A WIDE AREA, THAT THOSE THINGS WOULD BE DAMAGED, WOULD GET INTO, UH, LEAKAGE.
HOW ARE THEY GONNA GET ALL THAT UP? AND ONCE YOU GET IT IN THE GROUNDWATER, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO THEN? AND THOSE, THOSE ARE MAJOR CONCERNS WITH ME.
UH, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THE, UH, THE SOLAR PANEL PART.
UH, OTHER THAN THOSE THINGS IN 45 YEARS, ONCE IT'S PUT IN, I'M STUCK WITH IT.
WHETHER IT HAPPENS THIS YEAR, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, THAT'S A MAJOR CONCERN.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THAT FARM.
THE THING ABOUT IT IS, UH, MY GRANDCHILDREN OR WHOEVER WANTED TO BILL OUT THERE, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? THEY'RE STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM TOO.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ASK.
I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO EVERYBODY WHOSE NAME I
THERE IS NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP.
UH, IN DEFENSE OF MR. GURLEY, HE DOESN'T WRITE THOSE NAMES DOWN ON THE LINE.
UH, BUT MR. GI DOES A GREAT JOB.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL COMMENT.
UH, LEMME JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT.
THE, THE SUCCESS OF DOING GOOD FOR THE COUNTY AND AND MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT ARE WHAT THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY WANT DEPENDS ON YOUR PARTICIPATION.
UH, NOT ALL, ALL YOU GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK, BUT YOU, YOU ALSO, BUT YOU ALL GOT A CHANCE TO BE A PART OF IT.
AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT YOU AND AS MANY CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE WILL COME OUT AND LEARN HOW THE GOVERNMENT OPERATES AND, AND, AND WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE DON'T DO.
UH, IF YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT ANYTHING THAT GOES ON, YOU NEED TO ASK, YOU NEED TO ASK, UH, MR. BASSETT AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, YOU NEED TO ASK MR. MASSENGILL, YOUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
DON'T ASK ANY OF US NOW, UH,
NO, BUT I MEAN, YOU, YOU'VE GOT OUR NAMES AND ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND CALL AND ASK AND WE'LL, WE'LL TELL YOU WHEN WE KNOW WHAT, WHAT ANSWER IS AND WE'LL TELL YOU IF WE DON'T.
BUT IT, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF IT.
SO THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UM, THIS ENDS THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION OF THE, UH, PRESENTATION AND, UH, MEETING PART OF IT.
UH, IT'S NOW TIME FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS AND, UH, ASK FOR ANY KIND OF CLARIFICATION.
YEAH, I GOT A FEW, BUT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE FOR THE APPLICANT AND MAYBE WE COULD HELP ANSWER.
PLUS THERE WERE SOME THINGS ADDRESSED TO THEM AS WELL.
YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK THEM SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, I, I, I GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT LIKE END OF LIFE.
DO, DO WE, UH, KNOW THAT ANY ADDITIONAL IMPACTS THAT THE FARMERS WOULD HAVE?
YOU CAN'T HEAR ME? NOT AT ALL.
I I'LL MAKE SURE YOU CAN HEAR ME 'CAUSE I LOOK DEAF.
I CAN HEAR MY WIFE RIGHT NOW HOME.
SAM, WHY AIN'T YOU SPEAKING TO THAT MICROPHONE,
[01:40:02]
UH, GATE, HOW DO YOU, UH, GET THE LAND BACK TO WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY FARM IT? OR CAN YOU MM-HMMUH, SO WE ARE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED WITH THE CONTRACTS, WITH THE LANDOWNERS TO REMOVE THE PROJECT.
UM, OUR LEASES EXPIRE AT 45 YEARS, HENCE THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT.
SO WE ARE REQUIRED TO REMOVE THAT UNLESS WE EXTEND THE LEASES.
BUT IN THE EVENT OF, UM, REMOVAL, UH, SO WE WOULD DO THAT ACCORDING WITH THE DECOMMISSIONING PLAN.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN, UH, TRYING TO WORK WITH VIRGINIA TECH.
UM, THERE'S A PROFESSOR, UM, CALLED, I DON'T WANNA MISTAKE HIS NAME.
UM, HE'S BEEN ACTUALLY LOOKING INTO THIS SUBJECT FOR A WHILE.
HE'S ACTUALLY WORKING ON SEVERAL OF OUR PROJECTS RIGHT NOW.
UM, NOT ONLY HELPING WITH EROSION, CINNAMON CONTROL AND SOILS AND STABILIZATION, UH, BUT HE'S ALSO BEEN DOING RESEARCH FOR A FEW YEARS, UM, ABOUT SOILS ON SOLAR PROJECTS.
SO HIS IMMEDIATE CONCLUSIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU PULL EQUIPMENT OUT OF THE GROUND, UM, YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY, UM, YOU KNOW, DO GRAZING OR HAY FARMING, UH, REVERTING IT TO CROP, THEN IT WILL REALLY DEPEND ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE LAND.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, HE IS ANTICIPATING THERE MIGHT BE FERTILIZING OR, UM, YOU KNOW, ANY ADDITIVES THAT MAY BE ADDED TO THE SOILS.
UH, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE SOLAR PROJECT, AND I THINK THAT ADDRESSES IF FEW OF CONCERNS RAISED UNDER THE SOLAR PANELS.
IT'S NOT CONCRETE, IT'S NOT GRAVEL, IT'S GRASS.
THROUGHOUT 45 YEARS, WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE THAT SOIL STABILIZED PER DEQ REQUIREMENTS.
SO ALL THAT HAPPENS IS AFTER CONSTRUCTION FOR 45 YEARS, UM, THAT VEGETATION IS GROWING THERE, ESTABLISHING ROOTS, THE TOP SOIL IS BUILDING.
UH, SO ANY IMPACTS FROM DECOMMISSIONING WOULD BE THE IMPACTS OF I WOULD SAY SEMI CONSTRUCTION AS WE REMOVE THE EQUIPMENT.
UH, BUT THERE'S NO, UM, YOU KNOW, NOTHING THAT WE PUT INTO THE SOIL.
UM, THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING TOXIC.
UM, THERE'S, THERE ARE ACTUALLY SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH THIS SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY.
THEY'VE BEEN IN THE GROUND FOR 26 YEARS.
ONE IS ACTUALLY IN GOLDEN COLORADO WITH FIRST SOLAR PANELS.
IT'S ON NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORIES LAND.
BUT FOR 26 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN DOING TESTING, TESTING TO THE PANELS, HOW THEY'RE OPERATING, ARE THERE ANY POLLUTANTS? UM, WHAT'S IN THE SOLAR PANELS IS NOT WATER SOLUBLE.
AND THERE ACTUALLY WAS A, UM, MOJAVE DESERT, AN ENORMOUS SOLAR PROJECT, AND A TORNADO WENT THROUGH, UM, OVER 200,000 SOLAR PANELS WERE DAMAGED.
UM, AND, UM, THEY DID TESTING, UM, AROUND THE AREAS WHERE THE PANELS WERE BROKEN.
AND, UM, THERE WAS NO CONTAMINANTS, NO NOTHING REALLY GETS OUT OF THE SOLAR PANELS.
SO IN TERMS OF THE, ANYTHING THAT COULD CHANGE THE, THE SOIL, UH, POTENTIAL, UM, THAT WASN'T FOUND.
UH, I'LL JUST CONTINUE ON PLEASE.
UM, SO WHAT IS THE, UH, MAKEUP IS, IS, ARE THEY, UH, CADMIUM TELLURIDE? ARE THEY SILICONE? WHAT, WHAT ARE THEY? YEAH, SO THIS SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY, IT'S THIN FILM TECHNOLOGY.
SO IT IS, UM, CADMIUM TELLURIDE.
HAS THERE EVER BEEN A, IN YOUR DEALINGS WITH THAT, HAS THERE EVER BEEN ANY LEACHING OUT OF THOSE PANELS ON THE GROUND? UM, NO SIR.
SO, UM, OUR FACILITIES, OR JUST IN GENERAL, LIKE I MENTIONED, THAT GOLDEN COLORADO FACILITY, THAT'S THE SAME TECHNOLOGY, THAT'S THE SAME PANELS.
UH, THERE'S OVER 40 INSTITUTIONS RESEARCH, UM, AND UNIVERSITIES THAT TESTED THIS TECHNOLOGY, UM, AND OPERATING CONDITIONS.
AND CONSISTENTLY THEY COME UP WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE'S NO POTENTIAL FOR LEACHING NO IMPACT TO ENVIRONMENT OR HUMAN SAFETY.
UM, ONE IS THAT, UM, FEDERAL LAB IN GOLDEN COLORADO.
ANOTHER ONE ACTUALLY NEAR HERE IS VIRGINIA TECH STUDY WHERE THEY'VE TESTED THIS.
UM, THERE IS, I THINK THERE ARE THREE STUDIES FROM GERMANY WHERE THEY SAID THAT, UH, THERE IS POTENTIAL TO LEACH THE SEMICONDUCTOR.
BUT WHAT THEY DID IS THEY SHREDDED PULVERIZED AND LEACH THE SEMICONDUCTOR AND ACID, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE RECYCLING PROCESS FOR THIS.
SO IN TERMS OF THE SOLAR PANELS BEING OPERATING IN THE FIELD, BE IT TORNADO, UM, BE IT ANYTHING THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE FIELD, THERE'S NO IMPACT.
AND WHEN WE'VE GONE TO THE FIRST SOLAR FACILITY IN PARISBURG, OHIO, WE ACTUALLY SAW THE TESTING FOR HAIL, UM, SUBMERGING THE PANELS IN WATER.
UM, SO IT'S, IT GOES THROUGH VERY RIGOROUS QAQC BEFORE IT COMES OUT OF THE FACILITY.
UM, HOW, HOW DO YOU PLAN ON CONTROLLING PLANT GROWTH AROUND AND UNDERNEATH THE PANELS? MM-HMM
UH, SO WE WOULD BE, UM, MOWING THE AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE POLLINATOR
[01:45:01]
PLANTINGS, UM, THE POLLINATOR MEADOWS WITHIN THE PROJECT THAT WE WOULD NOT BE CUTTING THAT.BUT WE, UH, HAVE OUR OWN OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE GROUP.
UM, AND SO THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, MAINTAINING VEGETATION.
WHEN YOU SAY, SAY THAT YOU USE IT WITH A WEED EAR OR LAWNMOWER, DO YOU USE ANY KIND OF CHEMICALS TO CLEAN? WE TO SPRAY MM-HMM
WE DON'T USE, UM, ANY CHEMICALS.
AND, UH, I GUESS LAST, UH, AND, AND, AND I HAVEN'T READ EVERYTHING IN THESE, I MEAN, 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT QUITE SOME TIME, YOU KNOW, THE DECOMMISSIONING PLAN MM-HMM
WHAT CAN YOU, UH, EXPOUND ON THAT? WHAT THE TERMS OF DISPOSAL ARE? YES.
UM, SO, UM, AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOLAR PANELS OR RACKING, UM, THAT IS ALL RECYCLABLE.
UM, SO WITH THE DECOMMISSIONING OR REMOVAL, WE'RE COMMITTING TO REMOVING ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO CABLES RACKING, UM, INVERTERS, UM, AND, UM, SENDING IT FOR RECYCLING, UM, OR, UM, DISPOSING OF IT IN QUALIFIED FACILITIES.
UM, WE WILL, UM, AND SO PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW, IF WE THINK ABOUT THE PROCESSES PULLING THE METAL BEAMS THAT ARE IN THE GROUND THAT ARE THE, UM, THE, THE, THE TRACKING STRUCTURES ON WHICH THE PANELS ARE MOUNTED, UM, IN TERMS OF ROADS, WE TRY TO WORK WITH OUR LANDOWNERS TO ACTUALLY TELL US WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD LIKE US TO KEEP THE ROADS.
UM, AND MANY TIMES AS WE DISCUSS THIS WITH LANDOWNERS, THEY ACTUALLY TELL US THAT THEY WOULD PREFER WE LEAVE THE ROADS.
UM, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THE NEXT USE COMES, THEY WOULD PROBABLY USE THE GRAVEL ROADS.
UH, SO THESE ARE USUALLY AREAS THAT WE WOULDN'T, UM, WE WOULDN'T REALLY CHANGE.
UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SAME PROCEDURES APPLY WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO, UM, GET ANY PERMITS FOR LAND DISTURBANCE.
UM, WE WOULD HAVE TO ABIDE BY THOSE, UM, TO, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION PLAN.
UM, THERE ARE DECOMMISSIONING HOURS, THERE'S TRAFFIC PLAN THAT COMES INTO THIS.
UH, SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE REVERSE PROCESS OF, OF CONSTRUCTION AND ALL THESE SAME REQUIREMENTS APPLY.
SO I, I'M, UH, THINKING THEN THAT ANY STRUCTURES THAT ARE, I SAY TEMPORARILY PERMANENT MOUNTED INTO THE GROUND TO HOLD ALL THE STRUCTURE, THEY WOULD BE REMOVED AND THE LAND WOULD BE OKAY.
THERE'S ONLY ONE STRUCTURE THAT WILL NOT BE, UM, SO AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THERE'S A DOMINION SUBSTATION THAT WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROJECT, UM, THAT IS A STRUCTURE.
UH, IT WILL BE DEEDED OVER TO DOMINION.
UM, AND SO THAT'S A STRUCTURE THAT THEY CONTROL AND WE DON'T CONTROL.
I GUESS THE LAST THING I GOT IS, UH, WHEN ALL THESE PANELS, IF THEY ARE INSTALLED AESTHETICALLY, WILL WE BE ABLE TO SEE 'EM FROM ANY OF THE ROADWAYS AROUND ANY OF THAT? I SAW ALL THE VEGETATIVE BUFFER IN YOUR EXAM.
FROM ALL 360 DEGREES AROUND IT.
ANYONE ELSE COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? MA'AM? DO YOU HAVE BATTERY BACKUP FOR THE SYSTEM? UH, WE DON'T, SIR.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SUNLIGHT TO GENERATE THE ENERGY THAT YOU NEED? MM-HMM
SO, UM, AS MENTIONED, THIS IS ACTUALLY WHY THIS LOCATION IS CHOSEN OR PROPOSED FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF ALL THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, SEVERAL, UH, HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES AND SUBSTATION.
UH, SO THE PANELS PRODUCE POWER AS THERE IS SUN AND DELIVERED TO THE GRID.
UM, SO THAT IS REALLY THE, THE MECHANISM OF THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE GRID IS REALLY, UM, DEPENDENT ON DIFFERENT ENERGY SOURCES.
THEY PROVIDE DIFFERENT SERVICES TO THE GRID.
UH, SOME OF THEM CAN RAMP UP AND DOWN.
AND SOLAR IS JUST ONE OF, UM, SOURCES THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN PUT ON THE GRID WITH OTHER TYPES OF ENERGY GENERATION, JUST MAKES FOR A RESILIENT GRID.
UM, AS THIS IS DISTRIBUTION, UM, DISTRIBUTED RESOURCE, UM, ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO THE GRID ARE THAT WE ARE, UM, UPGRADING THE LOCAL SUBSTATION.
UH, WE ARE PROVIDING UPGRADES TO THE POWER LINES.
SO, UH, IT'S A REALLY POSITIVE THING FOR THE LOCAL GRID.
UM, AND AS, AS MENTIONED THAT WITH TERMS OF POWER SALE, THIS IS A TRANSMISSION PROJECT, SO THE POWER WILL BE SOLD ON THE WHOLESALE MARKET.
UM, SOME OF THE LOCAL PARTICIPANTS IN THAT, AND AGAIN, AS THE SUBSTATION DELIVERS POWER LOCALLY, UM, SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE, UM, DOMINION OR THE LOCAL CO-OP.
SO I THINK, UM, ODAC, NOT SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC ARE ACTUALLY MEMBERS OF THE WHOLESALE MARKET.
[01:50:01]
QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.ANY DISCUSSION AMONG THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS, UH, COMMENTS? I GUESS I'LL, I GUESS I'LL START HERE LOOKING OVER HERE FOR COMMENTS.
UM, I, I HAVE SOME GENERAL COMMENTS THAT KIND OF APPLY TO THE SPEAKING TO THE MIC, PLEASE.
WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS TOLD I, I, UH, TALKED TOO LOUD, SO KIND OF FUNNY, BUT I APOLOGIZE.
SO, UM, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS HERE THAT ARE RELATIVE TO INDIVIDUAL CASES AND, AND ALL THE CASES, BUT JUST TO KIND OF, KIND OF GET IT OUT OF THE WAY, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, I AM CONCERNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LONG-TERM RESIDUAL EFFECTS.
UM, I THINK THE TITANIUM, UH, MIND IS KIND OF COMES TO MIND.
I, I THINK A LOT OF THINGS THE APPLICANT HAS SPOKEN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKES LOGIC LOGICAL SENSE TO ME.
BUT, UM, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT JUST GIVEN WHAT WE EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS WITH THE TITANIUM MINE.
UM, I ALSO TAKE OFFENSE TO THE, UM, IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE.
I THINK FORESTRY IS, IS, IS AS IMPORTANT, IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT PART OF THE AGRICULTURE.
UM, I KNOW KIND OF RELATED TO THAT, A LOT OF FOLKS WANT TO DO WELL FOR THEIR FUTURE GENERATIONS IN REGARD TO LEAVING A CLEANER IMPACT ON OUR PLANET.
AND, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I THINK FORESTRY IS ONE OF THE BEST AREAS TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU TALK, I HEARD SOMEBODY TALK ABOUT THE HEAT, UH, THE HEAT ISLAND.
WE HAVE HEAT ISLANDS ALREADY IN URBAN AREAS.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO OFFSET HEAT ISLANDS THAN TREE CANOPY? UM, AND IT CLEANS THE ENVIRONMENT TOO WITH CARBON REDUCTION.
UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS AS, AS AN ISSUE WE OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT MAYBE AS A COUNTY IS THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTRY'S, UH, BENEFIT TO CARBON REDUCTION THROUGH OUR FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURE.
UM, I DON'T THINK THE INCENTIVES ARE THAT MUCH RELATIVE TO THE, OUR BUDGET OVER SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I THOUGHT, OKAY, WELL WHAT IF WE HAD 500 SQUARE MILES OF SOLAR PANELS? YOU KNOW, IT'S BE A LOT MORE MONEY THEN, RIGHT? BUT THAT'S SORT OF AN EXAGGERATION.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON OUR COMP PLAN UPDATE OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, AND IT REFLECTS, UM, THE COMP PLAN WORK THAT I'VE BEEN ON FOR 20 YEARS THAT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT, UH, WANTING TO MAINTAIN THE RURAL CHARACTER.
AND I THINK NOTHING DOES THAT MORE THAN FARMING OR AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY.
UM, I I THINK A SOLAR FACILITY IS MORE AKIN TO AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY THAN IT IS AN AGRICULTURAL ONE.
UM, I THINK ANOTHER LONG TERM ISSUE THAT IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS THE SETBACKS.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT Y'ALL HAVE GONE TO 150 FEET, BUT AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE ON ISSUES, AND I USE MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE AGAIN.
MY NEIGHBORS CUT, UM, ALL THE TIMBER AND IT'S FOUR OR 500 FEET AWAY FROM OUR CLOSEST TO POINT TO MY HOUSE.
AND I'M THINKING THAT'S WIDE OPEN OVER THERE, EVEN AT 500 FEET, YOU KNOW? AND SO 150 FEET CAN BE KIND OF TOUGH FOR SOME FOLKS, I THINK.
THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS THOUGH IS, AND MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW, I SPENT MY CAREER AT VDOT, UM, EVERY PROJECT I WAS ON WAS COMPARING THE BENEFITS OF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD USE THE FACILITY VERSUS THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY A FACILITY.
AND I, I SEE A LOT OF THAT HERE TOO.
I KNOW LANDOWNERS APPARENTLY NONE OF'EM SPOKEN TONIGHT, BUT A A LOT OF LANDOWNERS WOULD BENEFIT FROM A HIGHER COST OR A HIGHER, UH, RATE OF RETURN THAN SAY, UM, THEY WOULD GET FARMING OR EVEN DOING, UH, FORESTRY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT I THINK THE COST TO EVERYONE IS SO MUCH GREATER HERE.
UM, ALL OF, ALL OF DI WITTY COUNTY AND ALL OF VIRGINIA IS GONNA HAVE TO BE, IS BEING FORCED INTO A HIGHER COST ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION THAN WHAT COULD BE DONE WITH CLEAN GAS AND NUCLEAR AND THAT SORT OF THING.
AND I JUST, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A BAD ENERGY POLICY THAT THAT IS DRAWN PEOPLE TO COME TO WANT TO HAVE SOLAR FACILITIES IN OUR COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES IS BEING DRIVEN BY A GOVERNMENT MANDATE, UM, AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT, UH, UM, REALLY ALL OF US, ALL 30,000 OF US IN THE COUNTY RUN THE RISK OF HAVING MORE UNRELIABLE POWER AND MORE COSTLY POWER OVER THE REST OVER THAT SAME 45 YEAR TIME.
SO, UH, THOSE ARE KIND OF MY COMMENTS, MR. CHAIRMAN, IN REGARD TO ALL THREE VOTES WE HAVE TONIGHT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? I, UH, YES, MA'AM.
[01:55:01]
TO SOME OF THE, UM, ISSUES RAISED? UH, IS THERE ANY TIME FOR REBUTTAL? I I'M THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU MADE YOUR PRESENTATION AND INFORMATION.UH, I THINK MOST OF US ARE AWARE THAT WE, WE HEAR DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS COMING FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, AND SO, I MEAN, I, WE COULD ALL SIT HERE AND CRITICIZE EACH OTHER WITH OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS.
UH, THE DILEMMA IS, IS THAT EVERY, NOT EVERYBODY, THE DILEMMA IS THAT WE BELIEVE YOU TOLD THE TRUTH AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE CITIZENS TOLD THE TRUTH, TRUTH AS THEY UNDERSTAND IT.
EVERYTHING IS THE WAY IT APPEARS TO EACH OTHER.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION WOULD GO ANY FURTHER.
YOU, UM, YOU MADE AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION AND THE NOTEBOOK THAT YOU PROVIDED, UH, FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND TEAMWORK WENT IN PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
I'M SORRY, NOT EVERYBODY HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT.
I'M SURE THEY WERE AVAILABLE AT EAST SIDE AND AT RICHARD BLAND AND, AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WERE YOU MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL THE CITIZENS THAT EITHER, YOU KNOW, WEREN'T ABLE TO GO OR, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT OR WHATEVER.
UH, I'M SURE THERE WOULD BE A MECHANISM, UH, THAT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. UH, UH, YEAH.
IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE.
THE ENTIRE APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
UHHUH
THAT'S DEFINITELY ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL.
AND I WOULD, I THINK MAYBE WE TRY TO GO THAT ROUTE, UH, TO, TO ANSWER THE QUESTION BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT I THINK YOU WOULD SAY IS ALREADY IN THE NOTEBOOK AND WELL DONE.
UH, SO IT IS JUST AN AMAZING PIECE OF WORK AND YOUR BOSSES OUGHT TO GIVE YOU A RAISE.
UH, SO LET'S JUST, LET'S LEAVE THAT IF, IF THAT, IF THAT'S OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COMING? I, I GUESS I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A COMMENT.
I'M GONNA BE THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE IN THIS SITUATION.
UM, I HAVE A CONFLICTING VIEW OF THE SOLAR THING.
UH, I SEE WHERE IT'S DETRIMENTAL.
I SEE WHERE IT'S A POSITIVE THING.
I WORRY THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO NOT ALLOW SOME SOLAR WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT PRETTY SOON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA WILL MANDATE THROUGH LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE TO ALLOW SOLAR WITHIN OUR COUNTIES.
I'M SCARED OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I KNOW THAT IF WE ARE IN CONTROL OF IT AND WE LISTEN TO YOU AND YOUR CONCERNS, THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS WITH WHAT WE DO ALLOW IN DENWOODY COUNTY.
I ALSO BELIEVE IN PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT A PERSON, IF THEY BUY A PIECE OF PROPERTY, HAS RIGHTS AFFORDED TO THEM WHEN THEY BUY THAT PROPERTY.
UH, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE PERSON THAT IS NEXT TO THEM.
WE CAN GO ON AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS.
AND I CAN SIT HERE AND TELL YOU ONE THING'S BEING RAMMED DOWN OUR THROAT IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY, THAT'S JUST AS NEGATIVE OR WORSE THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH SOLAR.
THE LITHIUM THAT IS IN THE BATTERIES, THE, THE, THE TOXIC STUFF THAT RUNS THOSE VEHICLES IS JUST AS BAD OR WORSE.
AND THEY'RE RUNNING BY YOUR HOUSE EVERY DAY.
UH, WHERE THESE SOLAR PANELS WILL NOT CATCH ON FIRE OR SHOULD NOT CATCH ON FIRE.
I'M GONNA SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE TO SEE IF ANY CAUGHT ON FIRE OR NOT.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST THING FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY ON BOTH SIDES.
THOSE THAT WILL BENEFIT AND THOSE THAT WON'T.
UH, WE WILL GET A POSITIVE IMPACT FROM THIS OVER IN TAXATION OVER WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS.
UH, MOST OF THIS LAND IS IN LAND USE AND PROBABLY VALUED AT SOMEWHERE ON AVERAGE OF
[02:00:01]
700 TO $750 AN ACRE.THAT IF YOU HAVE YOUR LAND AND LAND USE, THAT YOU'RE PAYING, UH, 79 CENTS A HUNDRED ON, WHERE IF IT'S VALUED AT 15,000 INSTEAD OF $750, THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE 12 TO 15%.
I MEAN, 15 TIMES MORE REVENUE FROM THOSE ACRES.
AGAIN, NOT ALL 1,891 ACRES ARE GONNA BE IN PANELS.
NOT ALL OF THESE WILL BE FENCED.
UH, I THINK A LOT OF MISCONCEPTION CAME THE FIRST TIME AROUND THAT WHEN IT WAS 1,890 ACRES, IT WAS ALL GONNA BE ONE BIG FENCE AND NOTHING COULD GET THROUGH THERE, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I NECESSARILY WANT IT, BUT I'M SCARED FOR DENWITTY COUNTY.
WE HAVE YET TO ALLOW, BUT ONE LITTLE 25 ACRES SOLAR FARM OUT NEAR REAMS, UH, THAT THERE IS LEGISLATION OUT THERE CURRENTLY TRYING TO MAKE IT WHERE WE CAN'T OPPOSE THINGS LIKE THIS.
SO WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE IF WE WAIT AND ALLOW IT, THE LEGISLATION TO GO THROUGH AND THEN WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.
AND I GUESS THAT'S ALL I'VE GOTTA SAY ABOUT IT.
I ALL Y'ALL KNOW, EVERY ONE OF THESE HAS COME BEFORE US.
I, I'VE, UH, VOTED FOR AND, UH, GOT TO THINKING AND I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? I REALLY NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.
AND I HAVE BEEN, AND I HAD THE LIST OF QUESTIONS HERE JUST BETTER SATISFY MY MIND BECAUSE I CAME IN HERE WITH THE THOUGHTS THAT I WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY I'VE BEEN VOTING IN THE PAST ON THESE.
BUT AFTER ALL THESE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD, AND I HAD QUITE A FEW, UM, I, I, I CAN'T SEE ME CHANGING.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S, I MEAN, I, I, FORTUNATELY OR UNFORTUNATELY, I MEAN, I, I, UH, I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO ACCUSE MYSELF.
I RETIRED FROM DOMINION ENERGY AND, UH, BUT I KNOW WHAT THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY LOOKS LIKE AND I KNOW THAT IT'S, THERE'S A REASON TO NEED THESE.
AND, UH, BUT I, LIKE I SAID, I COME IN HERE WITH A THOUGHT PROCESS THAT IF, IF I CAN GET THESE, IF THEY CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTIONS, THEN I MAY GO THE OTHER WAY.
ANYONE ELSE? I MEAN, MAKE A COMMENT.
UM, I THINK WE'VE ALL STRUGGLED WITH THIS.
UM, FOR ME, IT COMES DOWN TO, UH, THE LOCATION OF THIS TYPE OF FACILITY.
THIS IS NOT A LIMITED INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN, IN ZONING IS WHAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT ZONE BY, RIGHT.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CAN, CAN DO FOR, UH, IN THAT ZONE WHERE YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO ASK THE COUNTY ABOUT FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, ZONING IS GR UH, IT'S GREAT IF IF YOUR NEIGHBOR IS DOING SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T LIKE, BUT IT'S NOT GREAT IF IT KEEPS YOU FROM DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
AND THAT'S WHERE MOST OF US ARE.
WE SAID WE WANT TO HAVE A BUY, RIGHT? WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO WITH OUR LAND.
AND IF YOUR NEIGHBOR SAYS THAT AND DOES SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITHOUT ZONING? YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING.
AND WE ALL KNOW EXAMPLES AROUND, UH, THAT, WHERE THAT'S BEEN A TOTAL DISASTER FOR COMMUNITIES ZONING IS KINDA LIKE A STOPLIGHT.
IT'LL STOP YOU SOMETIMES, BUT YOU'LL LET YOU GO SAFELY AND IN A WELL, WELL THOUGHT OUT WAY.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ANY NEED TO CHANGE A TWO ZONING, UH, THAT DOES NOT ALLOW ENTERPRISE SOLAR FACILITIES OF THIS SIZE AND, AND GIVE UP THE NATURAL RESOURCES, THE FORESTRY AND THE FARMLAND THAT A TWO IS A ZONED FOR.
I DON'T THINK THAT, I THINK THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES AND MAYBE IN VIRGINIA THAT LAND IS SO INHOSPITABLE TO
[02:05:01]
FARMING.I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY DOING ANYTHING ANY BETTER THAN THIS TEAM HAS DONE TONIGHT.
AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE GETTING READY FOR TONIGHT.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS WHERE THEY WANT TO DO IT.
DEN WHITNEY IS PROUD OF BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE FOOD FIBER AND SHELTER, AND WE EXPORT THE HECK OUT OF IT.
IF A SOLAR DEVELOPER WANTS TO GIVE HOMEOWNERS IN THE CARSON COMMUNITY GRANTS TO PUT SOLAR ON THEIR FARM ON THEIR HOMES, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND I THINK WE HAVE SHOWN THAT WE ARE NOT ANTI-SOLAR.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THE SCALE AND LOCATION AND 25 ACRES A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT THAN ALMOST 1900 ACRES AND 1900 ACRES SIZES.
IT'S ALMOST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG ABOUT WHAT SOME OF 'EM ARE PROPOSING.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT AS WORRIED ABOUT AS MR. UH, TMA SAYS ABOUT WHAT THE LEGISLATORS GONNA DO BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT ANYWAY.
UH, I THINK WE'VE GOT GOOD LEADERSHIP AND I DON'T THINK THAT'LL HAPPEN.
IF IT DOES, WE HAVE A CHOICE OF, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY SAY, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE THE CAUSE OF IT.
AND WE DON'T, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR GIVING UP THE FIGHT IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.
UM, I, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE THIS SIZE SOLAR ENTERPRISE IN THE LOCATION THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL FROM CENTRAL TEXAS TO MONTANA SEVERAL TIMES BY CAR.
MY TRUCK, I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY WINDMILLS IN MY LIFE.
THAT'S NOT A, I DON'T SEE ANY SOLAR PANELS UNDERNEATH THEM.
I DON'T SEE ANY TREES UNDERNEATH THEM.
'CAUSE IT WON'T GROW ANYTHING BUT A SUNLIGHT.
AND I THINK PLACES LIKE THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT NOT IN THE PRODUCTIVE FARM.
AND I RODE DOWN CARSON ROAD TODAY, WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS IN CAR TO CARS, TAKING A LOOK AT THE LAND.
YOU KNOW, THAT LAND DOES NOT NEED TO BE BULLDOZED DOWN.
TREES CUT AND FARMS RUN TO HAVE SOLAR ENERGY THAT IS GOING TO PRODUCE A SOLAR POWER THAT VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE IN DENVER CAN, THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO USE.
I THINK A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR MOST SOLAR ENTERPRISES IS TO PROVIDE A MARKETING TOOL FOR THESE HIGH CONSUMPTION, UH, AMAZON, GOOGLE, WHOMEVER BUILDING THESE HEAT SERVERS UP IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
UM, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, OH, WE'RE GETTING GREEN ENERGY AND WE, THEY SHOULD BE GETTING GREEN ENERGY, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS NOT DOWN CARSON ROAD.
AND YOU CAN COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN, THEN WE'LL HEAR IT.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO, AND THE OTHER THING YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND, I THINK YOU DO, WE ARE SE WE ARE SEVEN MEMBERS.
ONE OF OUR MEMBERS IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND HE'S VERY APOLOGETIC FOR THAT.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER MEMBER WHO, UH, USED THE, UH, GOOD JUDGMENT TO RECUSE HIMSELF BECAUSE OF HIS CONNECTION TO SOME OF THE LANDOWNERS IN THAT AREA.
WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO LOOK LIKE IT'S BEING DONE UNDER THE TABLE.
AND OUR VOTE IS JUST TO RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE VOTE THAT THEY ACCEPT OUR RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE IT OR DISAPPROVE IT.
AND IN ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO, THEY WILL HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING AND PRESENTATION SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT, TO MAKE THEIR DECISION FOR THE FINAL VOTE.
SO I WOULD SAY KEEP UP THE, KEEP UP THE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED TO DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN.
UM, I, WE'VE HAD A CHANCE IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, QUITE A WHILE, EARLY GOING OUT AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE AND TALKING TO 'EM.
AND SOMETIMES WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO AGREE WITH WHAT, WHAT A LOT OF CITIZENS SAY.
AND SOMETIMES WE'VE HAD, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FOR OTHER REASONS, BUT WE'VE DONE THE BEST WE CAN AND IT'S BEEN TRANSPARENT.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING JUST A PART OF IT.
SO AT THIS TIME, ANY MORE COMMENTS? I'LL TALK TOO MUCH ALREADY.
IT'S TIME FOR, UH, A MOTION TO EITHER APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE.
HOW YOU GOING TO WORD THAT? YOU GOT THREE CASES WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON EACH CASE.
THE FIRST IS CASE NUMBER ONE, IS THE, UH, DETERMINATION
[02:10:01]
OF ABOUT THE, UH, COMP PLAN.UH, SO WE, OUR VOTE NOW IS FOR CASE NUMBER ONE OR HOWEVER THEY'VE GOT IT LISTED CASE, UH, ESSAY DASH 23 DASH ONE.
AND I THINK MR. BASSETT POINTED IT OUT TO WHERE THE, UH, MOTION IS SET OUT FOR Y'ALL.
UH, AND IT'S ON PAGE SIX, THE FIRST WHERE IS CLAUSE, WHICH SAYS SATISFIES THAT SHOULD BE AN OPTION TO PICK, DOES, SATISFY, OR DOES NOT, AS THE NEXT CLAUSE SAYS IS OR IS NOT.
AND IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING AND THAT'S GOOD.
I'LL BE WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION.
SO WHEREAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VIRGINIA CODE, UH, 15.2 DASH 2 2 3 AS AMENDED, THE DEN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE SUBJECT SOLAR GENERATING FACILITY, LILY POND SOLAR, AND 80 MEGAWATT VOL PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR FACILITY DOES NOT SATISFY THE CRITERIA OF LOCATION, CHARACTER, AND PHYSICAL EXTENT.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ITY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION DOES HEREBY FIND THAT THE SOLAR, EXCUSE ME, THAT THE SUBJECT SOLAR GENERATING FACILITY, SOLAR POND, SOLAR LILY POND SOLAR, LLC AND 80 MEGABYTE, GOSH.
AND 80 MEGAWATT PHOTO VOL TAKE SOLAR FACILITY IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY IN ACCORD WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND HAVE YOU MR. DOC PROSITE? YES.
UH, SA 23 DASH ONE WILL GO TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH THE DOES NOT AND IS NOT, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THE MOTION FAILED.
THE MOTION FAILED, RIGHT? YES.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A NEW MOTION.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN AND BIT RESOLVED AND IN ORDER TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 DASH 2 2 8 6 A SEVEN, IT IS STATED THAT THE PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS INITIATED IS TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC NECESSITY, CONVENIENCE, GENERAL WELFARE, GOOD ZONING PRACTICE.
I MOVE THAT REZONING REQUEST P DASH 23 DASH ONE AS PRESENTED.
BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR.
YOU WANT ME TO DO THE SEED ONE? WE, WE NEED YOU TO DO THIS SUBSTANTIAL IN ACCORD, MR. BASSETT.
NUMBER THAT YOU GOT, YOU NEED TO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOW IT TO ME.
YOU, YOU'RE IN THE WRONG DOCUMENT.
YOU GET YOU, YOU LET ME READ THAT WHOLE THING OVER THERE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT, AIN'T THAT EASY IS IT? IT'S, IT'S A, I HAD, I HAD IT.
WE'LL BE THERE IN A MINUTE THERE.
MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU WERE SPEAKING SO LOUDLY THAT I DIDN'T WANNA STOP YOU.
YOU THROW SOMETHING AT ME NEXT TIME I'M THERE.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO AHEAD AND READ IT? OH YEAH, PLEASE DO, MAN.
I'M TIRED OF FUMBLING THROUGH THIS TOUCH SCREEN ALL WHEREAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH VIRGINIA CODE 15.2 DASH 2 2 3 2 AS AMENDED.
THE DENWITTY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE SUBJECT SOLAR GENERATING FACILITY, LILY POND SOLAR, AND 80 MEGAWATT PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR FACILITY SATISFIES THE CRITERIA OF LOCATION, CHARACTER, AND PHYSICAL EXTENT.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE DEITY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
[02:15:01]
DOES HEREBY FIND THAT THE SUBJECT'S SOLAR GENERATING FACILITY, LILY POND SOLAR, LLC AND 80 MEGAWATT PHOTO VOLTE SOLAR FACILITY IS SUBSTANTIALLY IN ACCORD WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE COMP PLAN.I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT OUR MOTION HAS BEEN MADE.
AND SECOND TO, UH, APPROVE, UH, THIS RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO THE, UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SA 23 DASH ONE HAS BEEN, I GUESS SATISFIED AND IS THREE TO TWO TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THAT MOTION, MR. CARROT? UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CASE NUMBER DASH P DASH 23 DASH ONE? THIS IS, UH, THIS IS FOR REZONE.
SO, SO THIS ONE IS P DASH 23 DASH ONE.
WE DIDN'T GO IN ORDER THE WAY THEY WERE ON THE PAPER, RIGHT? WE DID.
DO WE WANT, DO YOU WANT ME TO EMBARRASS YOU OR NO? I DON'T CARE.
THERE'S ONE, THERE'S THE P 23 AND THERE'S THE C 23.
IS THAT NOT TOP TO BOTTOM? IS, IS P ALRIGHT.
WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT ME TO DO, MAN? THE ONE YOU JUST DID A MINUTE AGO.
YOU
WE NOW DOING P DASH 23 DASH ONE, WHICH IS YEAH.
I COULD BET IF I, I'M ON THE WAY.
I, I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, SO I OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT AGAIN.
BILL RESOLVED IN AN ORDER TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 DASH 2 2 8 6 A SEVEN.
IT IS STATED THAT THE PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS INITIATED IS TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC NECESSITY, CONVENIENCE, GENERAL WELFARE, AND GOOD ZONING PRACTICE.
I MOVE THAT REZONING REQUEST P DASH 23 DASH ONE AS PRESENTED BY BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR.
READY FOR A VOTE? MR. CHAIR? YES.
PROSY NO P DASH 23 DASH ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH A THREE TO TWO VOTE? CORRECT.
AND WE NOW NEED A VOTE FOR CASE NUMBER C DASH 23 DASH ONE.
BASICALLY THIS IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PROPERTY.
DO UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT? IS THERE A MOTION FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT? YES.
IF I CAN GET THIS, THIS TOUCH SCREEN AIN'T WORKING TOO GOOD.
'CAUSE MY TOUCHING AIN'T DOING RIGHT.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT IN ORDER TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH VIRGINIA COACH, SECTION 15.2 DASH 2 2 8 6 A SEVEN, IT IS STATED THAT THE PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS INITIATED IS TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC NECESSITY, CONVENIENCE, GENERAL WELFARE, AND GOOD ZONING PRACTICE.
I MOVE THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUESTS C DASH 23 DASH ONE AS PRESENTED, BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
C DASH 23 DASH ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS ON THE THREE TO TWO VOTE TO THE BOARD OF
[02:20:01]
SUPERVISORS.OKAY, NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OLD BUSINESS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO STAY AND HEAR THE EXCITING OLD BUSINESS THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT, BUT YOU ARE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO GET UP AND LEAVE AND GO HOME
UH, AND THAT FOR THE, UH, PRESENTERS, SAME THING IF WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO STAY, BUT IF YOU NEED TO, UH, HIT THE ROAD.
I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TOUCH SCREEN.
THEY, YEAH, I MEAN THE ING IF, IF Y'ALL WILL, UH, KIND OF MOVE OUT IN THE HALLWAY.
I THINK THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS CAN HEAR US.
UH, WE'LL MOVE AHEAD WITH OLD BUSINESS.
ANY OLD BUSINESS AT THIS TIME? I HAVE NO OLD BUSINESS FOR THIS EVENING, MR. CHAIR.
ANYONE ELSE? ANY OLD BUSINESS, ANY NEW BUSINESS? UH, NO NEW BUSINESS? I'LL TOUCH ON A COUPLE THINGS IN MY DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS.
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS? ANY, NONE
[10. PLANNING DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS]
BEING HEARD? UH, PLANNING DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS? I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW OUR APRIL MEETING.UM, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY, UM, PUBLIC HEARING CASES FOR YOU ALL TO HEAR.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A NEED, UH, FOR A, UM, IT'S EITHER GONNA BE A WORKSHOP OR A REGULAR MEETING.
MR. MASSENGILL'S GONNA COME PRESENT.
THE, UH, WE HAVE PLANNED FOR HIM TO PRESENT THE CIP, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM AT THAT MEETING.
AND, UM, WE MAY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, WORK RELATED TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UH, FOR YOU THAT, THAT EVENING AS WELL.
SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE FOR OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE, UM, WE RELATED TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WE HAVE TWO, UH, MEETINGS, UH, PUBLIC MEETINGS, UH, TO PRESENT THE DRAFT PLAN, UH, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND, UH, FIRST MEETING WOULD BE ON MARCH 22ND, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22ND FROM SIX TO EIGHT IN MCKINNEY AT THE RAGSDALE UH, FACILITY.
AND THEN ON AGAIN ON MARCH 29TH, UH, FROM SIX TO EIGHT, WE'LL BE MEETING AT EAST SIDE AND THE FORMAT FOR THESE MEETINGS WILL BE OPEN HOUSE PEOPLE BE ABLE TO COME, UH, WE'LL HAVE DISPLAYS, UH, FOR THE PLAN, UH, FOR THEM TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON.
AND, UM, OUR FINAL DRAFT IS VERY CLOSE TO BEING COMPLETE, AND WE WILL BE POSTING THAT ON THE WEBSITE FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW.
UH, AND OF COURSE WE'LL HAVE HARD COPIES AVAILABLE AT THE PLANNING OFFICE HERE AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW AS WELL.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. CHAIR.
UH, MR. CHAIR, COULD I MAKE A YES, SIR.
I'LL ASK YOU IF YOU HAD TO COME AND THANK YOU.
JUST, UH, SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE SAID SOMETHING TO ME, AND SO I, I ASSUME SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THIS, BUT, UM, YOU REMEMBER THE 10 ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS Y'ALL RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2021? THE BOARD APPROVED THEM IN AUGUST OF 2021, AND THEY WERE CHALLENGED IN YOST V, THE COUNTY OF DENWITTY.
UM, IT WAS THE AGRITOURISM ORDINANCE AND RELATED ORDINANCES AND EVERYTHING.
UM, IT HAS GONE TO TRIAL AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE JUDGE CIRCUIT, COURT JUDGE, UM, SUPPORTED AND, AND SAID THAT 10 ORDINANCES WERE VALID.
AND, UM, I'M, I'M, I'M PLEASED WITH THAT RULING.
AND, UH, SO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR WORK, WORK ON THAT AND, AND LISTENING TO US SOMETIMES AND, UH, SO FORTH AND SO ON.
UH, THE OTHER COMMENT I WILL MAKE AND THAT SAME LIGHT FOR SOME REASON, I DON'T KNOW, POST COVID, PEOPLE ARE MORE INCLINED TO LITIGATE AND IT'S BEEN KEEPING US BUSY.
[02:25:01]
TYLER AND I IS NOT, UH, SET UP TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF LITIGATION, BUT WE TRY AND, UM, Y'ALL DO A GOOD, GOOD JOB.AND I WANT COMPLIMENT Y'ALL ON YOUR, YOUR QUESTIONS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
I'VE SEEN OTHER PLANNING COMMISSIONS AND EVEN BOARDS WORK, AND SOMETIMES IT LEADS A LITTLE TO BE DESIRED IF YOU UNDERSTAND ME.
SO, SO DON'T TAKE THIS IN NEGATIVE.
MY NEXT COMMENT, I JUST, JUST A REMINDER AND Y'ALL, Y'ALL, Y'ALL DO FINE.
UM, JUST TO REMIND IN THIS MORE LITIGIOUS SITUATIONS, UM, IN, IN ENVIRONMENT, THAT, UM, ANY COMMENTS THAT Y'ALL MAKE CAN END UP IN THE COURT RECORD IF YOU UNDERSTAND ME AND ME HAVING TO EXPLAIN.
SO YOU DO FINE, BUT JUST REMEMBER IT'S PUBLIC RECORD, SO, AND THANK YOU.
DO, UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MOTION ADJOURN.
SECOND MOTION BE MADE, UH, TO ADJOURN AND SECONDED.
ALL, ALL IN FAVOR, IN FAVOR OF IT ALL.
WE ARE ADJOURNED, MADE AND ADJOURNED.