Lunenburg County planning commission unanimously backs 60 MW Wheelhouse Solar with environmental and setback conditions

The Lunenburg County Planning Commission on May 16 unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a conditional use permit for Wheelhouse Solar to build and operate a 60-megawatt utility-scale solar facility on nine parcels totaling about 676 acres west/northwest of the Town of Victoria.

Garrett Weeks, a representative for Palladium Energy working on behalf of Wheelhouse Solar, presented the application and described the project’s extent, mitigation plans, pollinator habitat proposals and a proposed decommissioning plan. "The intent of this public hearing was to obtain a recommendation of approval from the Planning Commission for the Board of Supervisors," Weeks said during his presentation.

Lindsay Edwards of the Berkley Group delivered the staff report and outlined options for the commission: recommend approval with conditions, deny, or defer. Assistant County Attorney Drew DiStanislao summarized the permit conditions being recommended for approval, including requiring an independent contractor to evaluate any property-damage claims; limiting active disturbance to no more than 80 acres at any one time with stabilization and reseeding before further clearing; minimizing disturbance of steep slopes per DEQ guidance; prohibiting creation of permanent slopes greater than 8 percent; retaining topsoil within the project perimeter to support revegetation and pollinator habitat; and multiple setback requirements (at least 200 feet from public rights-of-way and adjacent parcel lines, 400 feet from residential structures on adjoining parcels, and 50 feet from 100-year floodplains and interior waterways). The conditions also require maintenance of riparian buffers, coordination with local emergency services, indemnification provisions, and notification to the county if the applicant installs fiber so the applicant will assist with broadband deployment along that route (citing Va. Code §15.2-2316.7(B) and the Siting Agreement).

Commissioners also raised technical and financial-safeguard questions during a staff and developer exchange. Commissioner Garrett asked whether piles left in the ground would be steel or concrete; Weeks said the piles anticipated are concrete and described periodic reviews of decommissioning financial assurances. Chairman James "Buck" Tharpe clarified the county will require a third-party consultant to review the decommissioning bond and that the county could require adjustments depending on that evaluation.

Three residents who signed up to speak—Blake Cox, Lane Gunn and Dana Bacon—expressed support for the project at the hearing, and the record included several letters of support. No speakers opposed the permit at this hearing.

Commissioner Thompson moved to recommend approval with the stated conditions; Commissioner Shell seconded. In a roll-call explanation, Commissioners recorded their affirmative votes and reasons: "Yah—I would like to see it approved. They have done a good job presenting and if they do what they say, then they will be a good neighbor," Commissioner Thompson said. Commissioner Trent noted parcel sizes and the project’s off-road location as factors in his support; Commissioner Shell said erosion concerns appeared to have been addressed in the conditions; Commissioner Pennington and Commissioner Garrett said the proposal addressed their concerns; Chairman Tharpe said the area is well buffered and the conditions will help ensure the project is a good neighbor. The motion was recommended unanimously by the seven commissioners present.

The application is scheduled for consideration by the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors at 6:00 p.m. on June 8, 2023, in the 2nd-floor courtroom of the Lunenburg Courts Building. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:50 p.m.