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Energix to present solar project to county June 8 as commission revises draft solar ordinance
Summary
County staff and commissioners confirmed an Energix presentation on June 8, 2023, and discussed three authorization pathways for solar projects — compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, zoning‑district rules, or on‑site transmission/site agreement — while raising questions about decommissioning and ordinance language on selling excess energy.
The Tazewell County Planning Commission scheduled a presentation by Energix project managers for its June 8 meeting as staff and commissioners continued to refine draft solar ordinance language.
County Attorney Chase Collins described three pathways discussed with Energix for siting a solar project in Virginia: compliance with the county’s Comprehensive Plan, conformance with the applicable zoning district’s requirements, or on‑site transmission of generated electricity (which could include a site agreement with the Board of Supervisors). Collins also told the commission the county could consider other site‑use arrangements and that the company was not pushing an accelerated timeline.
Commissioners raised questions about how the ordinance handled decommissioning or disposal of panels at the end of a project’s life and flagged phrasing about the sale of excess energy. Vice‑Chairman Robert “Bob” Moss asked for clearer language about energy selloff; Collins said he would rework that portion of the draft ordinance. Director of Engineering Kenneth Dunford Jr. provided technical comments that the commission said would be incorporated as the draft is revised; staff emphasized that the draft under review is a zoning ordinance.
No formal action or vote on the ordinance was recorded at the May 11 meeting. Energix’s planned appearance on June 8 will give commissioners an opportunity to hear project managers’ details in person and to ask technical and contractual questions before staff returns a revised ordinance for further consideration.
The minutes note a possible outcome for local customers: once installed, the county may be able to purchase energy from a project located at the Buckhorn site. The record does not include contract terms or pricing.
