Charlotte County approves CPV County Line Solar siting agreement, 6–1

The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a Siting Agreement with Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) for the proposed County Line Solar project after a public hearing and discussion on March 13, 2024. The motion to approve, made by Supervisor Hazel Bowman Smith and seconded by Supervisor Derek Toombs, carried 6–1. The resolution authorizes the board chair or the county administrator to execute the agreement.

Marlin dos Santos, representing CPV, told the board the project is proposed as a 150 megawatt‑AC facility in Madisonville, would create more than 200 construction jobs and represents roughly $300 million in infrastructure investment. Dos Santos said the company had revised its siting plans in response to community feedback, including larger setbacks in key visibility areas, wildlife corridors and native vegetation plantings. He said CPV will post securities to cover pre‑construction road work, road repairs caused by construction, grading, erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, vegetative buffer maintenance, security fencing and decommissioning costs.

The agreement includes community payments and upfront funds: $300,000 a year for three years, $50,000 for years four and five, a payment of $3,750,000 to the county within 45 days of commercial operation, and a revenue share starting at $231,000 per year that increases by 10% every five years, terms dos Santos summarized for the board. CPV also agreed to reimburse Charlotte County for expenses directly incurred by local fire and rescue first responders for emergency responses at the project site.

Public comment at the hearing included multiple statements of support—Tony Reeves, Curtis Martin, Andy Carwile, Lona Klien, Shannon Fiemann, Shasa Carwile and Nancy Carwile—and one spoken opposition, Daniel Dixon. Supporters referenced local economic benefits and mitigation measures; the opposing commenter expressed concerns that remained on the record.

Board discussion noted the changes CPV made after the February hearing. CPV and the Berkley Group confirmed other CUP‑related conditions addressed community concerns: avoiding slopes over 15%, conserving barns visible from Madisonville Presbyterian Church, a 100‑foot buffer around a burial site, and a construction restriction that work will not begin before 1:00 p.m. on Sundays. When Supervisor Noah Davis pressed CPV on panel decommissioning and nonremovable posts, the applicant said it is rare that a post cannot be removed, and in those cases the post will be cut as deep as possible and should not pose future problems.

The board recorded a 6–1 vote to approve the Siting Agreement; the motion authorizes either the chair or the county administrator to sign. The county will now execute the agreement and proceed with any local permitting steps required for commercial operation.