Mecklenburg supervisors approve 435-acre solar facility on farmland after narrow votes

Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors approved an application to develop a 435-acre solar facility on a roughly 1,249-acre site after a divided vote and conditions tying construction and decommissioning to county oversight.

The vote followed public comment from nearby landowners and a developer presentation. Supervisor (motion maker unnamed in transcript) first moved to deny the application; that motion failed on a 7-5 roll call. A second motion to approve the special exception permit (SEP) and impose conditions passed by roll call, 7-5.

Why it matters: The project would convert a large tract of farmland and timberland and is subject to state environmental permits and county conditions covering buffers, construction traffic, stormwater and decommissioning. Supporters cited local tax and one-time payments to county and town while opponents raised concerns about property values, visual impacts and proximity to the Maharan River, a state-designated scenic river.

Supporters and developer details: A motion in favor, read into the record by a board member, said the project would provide additional energy "needed to offset additional sources of energy consumption" and offered financial commitments that included a one-time $2,500,000 payment to Mecklenburg County, $500,000 to the town of Chase City, and estimated lifetime county tax revenue of $7,600,000. The…