Westmoreland supervisors defer Colonial Solar special-exception for 30 days amid wetland, decommissioning and policy concerns

The Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors on April 15 voted to defer a special-exception request for a proposed 4.8-megawatt, 39-acre community solar project on property owned by Davis Corporation.

The deferment motion passed unanimously by roll call after Supervisor Henson asked for 30 days to allow county staff, the applicant and supervisors to address outstanding issues; the board recorded five "aye" votes and no opposition. "I'm gonna ask for it to be tabled for 30 days," Henson said during deliberations.

County staff and the applicant, represented by Keith Morell, project developer with Ironwood Renewables, presented the Colonial Solar proposal and answered questions about setbacks, wetlands, decommissioning and utility interconnection. Morell described the plan as a community solar facility that would connect to a Dominion Energy distribution line at the Oak Grove substation and participate in Virginia’s shared-solar program. "We acknowledge and fully respect that the County is working on their solar policy," Morell said, noting the project was submitted in December 2024 and followed planning commission procedures.

The project team said the array…