Developer details 134‑MW Gibson Solar plan in Shiloh; proposes conservation easement, sheep grazing and decommissioning surety as neighbors raise concerns

Open Road Renewables presented plans for the Gibson Solar project in the Shiloh District, describing a 134-megawatt array sited along a 230-kilovolt transmission corridor that the developer says would occupy about 890 acres of privately owned parcels and preserve roughly 70% of the land in a permanent conservation easement.

Ryan Gilchrist, a company representative, told the board the project was located to access existing high-voltage headroom on the regional transmission line and was designed to minimize visual and environmental impacts. “Local control is really important. It's what results in these win‑wins for the community,” Gilchrist said, describing design changes made after community input.

Key elements the developer presented: - Size and siting: a 134-MW project using roughly 890 acres of parcel area; panels concentrated within interior fenced areas while buffers, setbacks and landscaping occupy much of the outer acreage. - Conservation commitment: a proposed permanent conservation easement on about 1,300 acres (the company said that figure includes adjoining conserved parcels and project‑related setbacks), to be held by a yet‑to‑be‑identified conservation entity; developers said a draft easement is prepared but a counterparty has not been finalized. - Agricultural use: a sheep‑grazing program is proposed to maintain vegetation under panels; Caroline High School agricultural teacher and grazier Kelsey Trainer Brown will manage rotational grazing and provided details about mobile water troughs and on‑site husbandry plans. - Financial assurances: the developer cited an ordinance-backed landscaping requirement (trees and screening) enforced with a $100,000 surety and said it would post a decommissioning bond sized to cover full removal at end of life. - Environmental approach: the developer committed to terrain‑following racking to avoid cut-and-fill, avoidance of mapped wetlands, and a plan to stage stormwater and erosion controls before major construction.

Public comment and concerns: More than one resident told the board they oppose the project’s scale and placement in agricultural land. Neighbors questioned whether the company reached adjacent landowners (the developer said door‑knocking and mailed notices were performed and formal open houses held) and requested copies of contact logs. Residents raised issues about impacts to wells, waterways and property values, and asked about long‑term stewardship of conserved land.

Tax and revenue estimates: The company presented a high‑level projection that the project could increase assessed real‑property values on impacted acres (company estimates cited a rise from a low thousands-per‑acre to roughly $10,000–$15,000 per acre in assessment), generate equipment or revenue‑share payments and voluntary siting payments. Gilchrist said those buckets together could produce between about $19 million and $24 million to the county over a 40‑year operating life, depending on which revenue model the locality accepts.

Process and next steps: Gilchrist said the project application is in the county planning process; the developer has scheduled an additional public open house on March 27 (4:30–7:30 p.m., King George library) and the planning commission will receive a packet with proposed special‑exception conditions before any formal board vote. The developer said that final site plan approval and any ownership transfer to a long‑term owner would carry the binding conditions forward.

What the board heard: Supervisors pressed the developer for details about screening species, winter visibility, water for grazing livestock and whether panels on multiple parcels mean there are separate, smaller farms on the same project footprint. Gilchrist said the project was intentionally distributed to avoid wetlands and reduce grading; he said the interconnection economics require a project of substantial scale to justify the 230‑kV tie.

Decision status: No land‑use approvals were made at the meeting. The county planning commission will hold hearings on the special‑exception application and staff will make recommendations; the company said it will continue community outreach and refine design and conditions.

Developer contact: Ryan Gilchrist, Open Road Renewables; project open‑house March 27 (4:30–7:30 p.m.) at the King George library.