Mecklenburg supervisors reject Dominion signing agreement and deny special-exemption permit for proposed solar project

The Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors voted on Oct. 14 to reject a signing agreement submitted June 27, 2025, by Dominion Energy and to deny a separate special-exemption permit tied to the same proposed utility-scale solar project after a publicly noticed hearing and a roll-call vote.

Board chair Justin Jennings moved both motions. The roll-call vote on the signing agreement rejection recorded six votes in favor (Claudia Lundy, Dennis Spence, [first name not stated] Brinkley, David Gravatt, Sterling Wilkinson and Justin Jennings) and two votes opposed (Brenda Blackwell and Annie Hargrove). The special-exemption denial passed by the same recorded margin.

The votes followed a lengthy presentation by Dominion Energy representatives on site design, storm resilience, decommissioning and recycling, and a public hearing that included more than two dozen speakers. County staff told the board the planning commission had recommended denial of the special-exemption permit.

Dominion presenters emphasized testing and vendor controls for module materials and said recycling and decommissioning were covered in project plans. In response to board questions about damaged panels and end-of-life disposition, a company representative said the company would “absolutely recycle” panels and added, “it would be a crazy business decision not to.” The company also noted modules are tested for hail and other weather events and said financial assurance for decommissioning is part of permitting processes.

Public testimony was sharply divided. Opponents raised concerns about stormwater, soil and water quality, environmental justice, property values and the track record of nearby projects. Judy Brothers, president of Friends of the Mahurin River, said the area where the project was proposed “is majority Black and low income” and argued the site “is totally inappropriate and will threaten our scenic Meherrin River,” the municipal water supply for Emporia. Several speakers cited previous local projects with ongoing stormwater or production problems and urged supervisors to deny permits.

Supporters, including local business and trade speakers, emphasized jobs, local contracting and secondary economic benefits during construction and operations. Sandra Towne Randolph, a founding board member and director of the South Central Virginia Business Alliance, told supervisors the project “will deliver millions in investment and create pathways for prosperity for Chase City and the entire county,” and said an unsolicited countywide canvass showed strong support for the project.

Supervisors also questioned enforcement and oversight. Multiple board members pressed whether the county or state agencies would proactively monitor soils, stormwater controls and decommissioning financial assurances. Speakers cited the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and federal regulators; county staff and presenters said DEQ and other agencies provide regulatory oversight but did not promise additional county-led testing beyond routine permitting and compliance actions.

After public comment and a short staff discussion, Chair Jennings moved to reject the signing agreement and later moved to deny the special-exemption permit. Both motions carried by the recorded roll-call votes.

The board record shows the planning commission had recommended denial. County staff closed the public hearing and the board took the two votes during the same meeting session.

The rejections leave the developer and county with options available under local land-use and permitting procedures, including potential resubmission or appeals via the applicable administrative or court processes; the transcript did not record a developer refile or follow-up schedule.

Votes at a glance

- Motion (reject signing agreement submitted 06/27/2025 by Dominion Energy). Mover: Chairman Justin Jennings. Vote: Yes — Claudia Lundy, Dennis Spence, Mr. Brinkley, David Gravatt, Sterling Wilkinson, Justin Jennings; No — Brenda Blackwell, Annie Hargrove. Outcome: motion to reject carried.

- Motion (deny special-exemption permit submitted by Dominion Energy). Mover: Chairman Justin Jennings. Vote: Yes — Claudia Lundy, Dennis Spence, Mr. Brinkley, David Gravatt, Sterling Wilkinson, Justin Jennings; No — Brenda Blackwell, Annie Hargrove. Outcome: motion to deny carried.

Why it matters

The board’s decisions block the current siting and permitting path for the Dominion Energy project in Mecklenburg County and reflect community divisions that ranged from worries about local environmental and water-resource impacts to arguments that the project would bring jobs and local contracting revenue. The votes also underscore continuing public scrutiny of utility-scale solar siting, stormwater controls and end-of-life plans for solar equipment in counties across Virginia.

What’s next

The transcript does not show a developer refiled plan or timeline. Dominion representatives said they would update project documents to clarify recycling and decommissioning commitments if requested, but no new commitments or a resubmission timeline were recorded at the meeting.