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Planning commission discusses solar facility study; commissioners examine acreage caps, buffers and DEQ enforcement language
Summary
Commissioners reviewed the Solar Facility Study on Oct. 5, raising concerns about loss of agricultural land, water resources and considering ordinance options including acreage limits (example: 500 acres), a county 'fair share' calculation and adding DEQ language to enable local enforcement; no policy was adopted.
At its Oct. 5 meeting, the Lunenburg County Planning Commission resumed consideration of a Solar Facility Study and discussed possible ordinance language to guide large-scale solar projects.
Commissioners highlighted concerns about the Comprehensive Plan goals, including potential loss of agricultural land and open space and the need to protect water resources. HB 206 was mentioned as a relevant, unresolved legislative item that could affect county options.
Discussion of ordinance options included a proposed acreage cap (a 500-acre example was raised), a "fair share" approach (calculate the county’s electricity consumption then add a percentage for new business), density controls, and a battery-storage ordinance. Commissioners also emphasized site-specific concerns: slope and runoff, keeping buffers during land clearing, differentiated review for the county’s eastern and western topography, and the possible inclusion of Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulatory language with a county enforcement backstop if state enforcement proved insufficient.
Clerk Taylor N. King reiterated that the county’s approach is a pause in consideration rather than a moratorium. No ordinance language was adopted; the commission directed staff to continue study and prepare draft options for future meetings. Assistant County Attorney Drew DiStanislao moved to defer the public hearing on CUP 1-23 (Oral Oaks Solar) to the December meeting; that motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: Planning staff were directed to draft ordinance options addressing acreage, density, buffers, DEQ incorporation and battery storage for further commission review.
