Hanover supervisors deny 72‑MW North Anna River solar project after hours-long hearing

Hanover County supervisors voted Sept. 25 to deny a conditional use permit for the proposed North Anna River Solar project, a 72‑megawatt utility‑scale facility Strata Clean Energy had proposed for roughly 1,527 acres in the Beaver Dam area.

The decision follows a lengthy staff briefing, a technical presentation from the developer and more than an hour of public comment that included neighbors, subject‑matter witnesses and county officials. Opponents raised worries about stormwater management, runoff and water‑temperature effects on the North Anna River, potential impacts to habitat and archeological features, road safety during construction, and the long‑term decommissioning and monitoring of the site. The Beaver Dam supervisor moved to deny the permit; the motion carried.

Why it mattered

Strata had revised the project after initial review, shrinking the array area from 342 acres to 252 acres while retaining the 72‑MW capacity by using taller, double‑row trackers. The company proposed a siting agreement worth about $1,686,960 (presented as payments phased around CUP approval and project milestones) and emphasized engineering controls, a decommissioning bond, and a commitment to maintain more than 1,061 acres of the site as forested buffer for 35 years. Planning staff noted the application met many policy and ordinance elements but also recorded that the Planning Commission recommended denial by a 4–3 vote following community opposition.

What the board heard

Developer representatives said the design had been revised to address community and environmental concerns, described stormwater basins and enhanced silt‑fence staging during construction, and offered monitoring and third‑party inspections. Strata and technical witnesses also described agricultural co‑use plans (rotational sheep grazing) and said modern crystalline silicon modules do not leach harmful substances.

Residents and conservation‑oriented speakers pushed back with specific concerns: potential increases in runoff temperature, the positioning and effectiveness of dry basins, whether inspections and maintenance would be sufficient after construction, risks to threatened species and nesting birds, the permanence of a substation, the scale of tree clearing (applicants described up to 468 acres of disturbance when BMPs and basins are included), and doubts about the developer's experience with decommissioning.

Board's reasoning and outcome

Supervisors praised the applicant's outreach and technical responses but said proximity to the North Anna River and unresolved erosion‑control questions weighed heavily. Several members stressed the Beaver Dam district's distinct rural character and a desire to preserve it. The Beaver Dam supervisor moved to deny the conditional use permit; the motion carried and the board denied the project. The chair adjourned the meeting afterward.

What happens next

The denial does not preclude the landowners from pursuing other land‑use options consistent with county zoning or submitting a different application that addresses the board's concerns. Strata representatives offered to continue conversations and to host site tours for supervisors and staff.

Details reported from the meeting

- Applicant: Strata Clean Energy; local presentation led by Morgan Quick and Laura Wilson, with engineer Brent Niemann. - Project: North Anna River Solar; proposed 72 MW AC; revised array area 252 acres; total site ~1,527 acres; applicant estimated a siting‑agreement contribution of approximately $1,686,960 to the county over time. - Key concerns cited by opponents: stormwater and erosion control, potential thermal effects on runoff, habitat and species impacts, archeological/grave‑site risks, narrow local roads during construction, decommissioning experience and permanence of infrastructure. - Board action: motion to deny the CUP carried; the project was denied.

The board adjourned and said it would continue routine county business at subsequent meetings.