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Commissioners approve court‑ordered findings to issue two solar‑farm special‑use permits
Summary
Following a Superior Court ruling that reversed the board’s earlier denials, the Edgecombe County Board approved draft orders to issue special‑use permits for two solar projects (Brightleaf and Swift Creek), implementing the court’s conditions.
The Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners voted on June 2 to adopt draft orders implementing a Superior Court ruling that directed the county to issue special‑use permits for two utility‑scale solar projects.
At a prior hearing, the board had denied special‑use permits for Brightleaf Solar LLC and Swift Creek Solar LLC after finding certain criteria unmet. The applicants appealed. The superior court concluded the applicants had presented sufficient evidence to meet the burden for entitlement and reversed the denials, instructing the county to issue the permits subject to additional conditions proposed by the applicants.
County attorneys presented draft orders for each project that implement the court’s direction and incorporate the applicants’ additional conditions. The board approved the draft orders for Brightleaf Solar LLC and Swift Creek Solar LLC after separate motions and votes; one commissioner was recused from a procedural second during the Swift Creek vote and the board clarified the motion. The approvals were purely procedural to effect the court order; the board’s prior factual findings and the court’s ruling are included in the administrative record.
Staff advised the board these orders respond to the court’s judgment and that issuance of the permits will be subject to the conditions and to any outstanding technical or permitting requirements required by county and state authorities.
