Pulaski supervisors deny Sicily Solar special-use permit after residents raise water, value and safety concerns

The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors voted to deny a special-use permit for Sicily Solar, a proposed 5-megawatt ground-mounted solar project on roughly 30–31 acres off Route 11 and Black Hollow Heights Lane.

The project, proposed by Sicily Solar LLC and developed by 1 Energy Renewables, would have placed photovoltaic panels on two parcels leased from landowners Frederick and Stephanie Hajduk and would connect to existing Appalachian Power Company distribution lines. Company representatives told the board the project would generate enough energy for about 1,200 average Virginia homes, take the parcel out of agricultural assessment for higher property tax revenue, and include a decommissioning plan and a 50-foot vegetative buffer around the fenced array.

Alyssa Miller, project manager for 1 Energy Renewables, described the revised site plan the company submitted after an earlier deferral, including changing the access…