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Virginia DWR urges wildlife protections in planning for local solar projects
Summary
At an Aug. 14 Charlotte County work session, Amy Martin of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources outlined best practices for siting and operating solar facilities to reduce impacts on at‑risk species, urging mitigation plans, wildlife passage measures and local public engagement.
Amy Martin, manager of the Nongame and Endangered Species Program at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, told the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 14 that the expansion of solar facilities requires careful planning to avoid harms to wildlife and habitats.
At the 5:00 p.m. work session, Martin presented a PowerPoint overview of DWR’s role and said solar projects in the state proceed under either a Department of Environmental Quality Permit‑by‑Rule or, for larger facilities, review by the State Corporation Commission. She said DWR participates on HB206 and is tracking solar development as an emerging issue for wildlife conservation.
Martin said wildlife considerations for solar projects include habitat protection, wildlife passage, habitat fragmentation and loss, siting and land use, and control of stormwater runoff. “When a species may be impacted, DWR requires a mitigation plan,” she said, and the agency promotes measures that allow solar development while protecting animal movement and habitat values.
She listed DWR’s preferred management practices for solar projects: siting agreements that identify the best parcels for development; specific protections for at‑risk species and sensitive habitats; engineered or planned wildlife passage where appropriate; water‑quality and stormwater controls; long‑term site management; and clear decommissioning plans.
Martin urged county officials and residents to stay engaged in local siting decisions and to participate in public comment opportunities so conservation considerations are included early in project planning.
The work session adjourned after the presentation; no formal county action on solar siting was recorded at the meeting.
