Charlotte County supervisors approve Randolph Solar siting agreement and conditional-use permit after split votes

CHARLOTTE COURT HOUSE, Va. — The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors voted 4-2, with one abstention, on July 5 to approve a Siting Agreement and a Conditional Use Permit for the Randolph Solar project, formalizing voluntary payments and financial security from the project’s developers.

Solunesco attorney Jon Puvak and Frances Hodsoll, chief executive officer of Solunesco, presented the agreement to the board and described its payment schedule and oversight provisions. Hodsoll said the company would make an initial voluntary payment of $500,000 to the county upon approval and signing of the Conditional Use Permit and that the agreement’s escalating payments would total $311,934,027 over 35 years, a figure the presentation attributed to the project and related payments, including $1,000,000 in accelerated payments from Court House Solar. The presentation also stated Dominion Energy will provide a $20,000,000 security bond to ensure payment to the county. Hodsoll said the company must fund a consultant for the county to review Solunesco’s plans before building permits are issued and described voluntary accelerated payments as nonrefundable.

“IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED…that the Board approves the Siting Agreement, with exhibits, as presented,” Supervisor Walter T. Bailey read as part of the motion approving the agreement, which also authorizes either the board chair or the county administrator to execute the contract.

The board’s votes followed a public comment period in which attendees were sharply divided. Supporters recorded in the meeting minutes included Doug Garnett, Bill Devin, Laine Gunn, Emily Jackson, Sharon Witlow, Kaley Moon, Skyler Zunkman, Cornell Goldman, Tune Devin, Jennifer Lacks, Rodney Tate and Blake Cox. Opponents listed in the record included Kathy Liston, Rodney Moon, George Toombs, Kay Pierantoni, Donna Fore, Stephan Barnes and PK Pettus. The transcript shows both local residents and landowners spoke for and against the project.

Supervisor Garland H. Hamlett Jr. moved to delay action until the board’s July 11 meeting; Supervisor Hazel Bowman Smith seconded that motion. The roll call recorded Hamlett and Smith voting Aye; Supervisors Tony Reeves, Walter T. Bailey and Robert L. Shook Jr. voting No; Chairman Gary D. Walker voting No; and Supervisor Will Garnett abstaining. That procedural motion did not carry.

After discussion, Supervisor Bailey—who told the board he had visited more than 17 solar sites and consulted local fire departments and the state DEQ—moved to approve the Siting Agreement; Supervisor Tony Reeves seconded. The board then voted: Bailey Aye; Reeves Aye; Hamlett No; Shook Aye; Smith No; Chairman Walker Aye; Supervisor Garnett abstained. The motion passed with four votes in favor and two opposed, with one abstention.

Immediately afterward, Supervisor Bailey moved, and Supervisor Reeves seconded, approval of the Conditional Use Permit for Randolph Solar. The board approved the permit in the same roll-call pattern used for the Siting Agreement, again 4-2 with one abstention. County Administrator Daniel N. Witt said publicly that staff would announce changes to permit conditions; Michael Zehner of The Berkeley Group reviewed Conditions 12 and 39 for the record.

Board members who opposed or expressed reservations cited concerns about conservation and natural-resource impacts and said they felt the county and residents needed more definitive answers on those issues before approving the agreement as written. Supervisor Hamlett said he felt the board had been “ambushed” by Dominion Energy’s offer and would not support the agreement as presented. Chairman Gary D. Walker said Dominion’s offer had been increased enough to win his support and that he had informed Solunesco and Dominion that any offer would need to be large enough to help reduce real-estate taxes.

The Siting Agreement and Conditional Use Permit are procedural steps; Hodsoll and Puvak noted they are early in a longer approval process that includes consultant reviews and the county’s building-permit process. The agreements recorded in the meeting minutes indicate the County will receive consultant-funded plan reviews before any building permits are approved.

The meeting adjourned after the votes and brief remarks from staff; the clerk signed meeting minutes that include the resolutions and vote tallies.