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Board approves two battery storage siting agreements, accepting donations and emergency-response commitments
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Summary
The Nelson County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved siting agreements for two 4MW battery energy storage systems at CVEC substations in Colleen and Piney River, authorizing one-time local allocations and $10,000 charitable donations per project and directing the County Administrator to execute the agreements.
Nelson County supervisors unanimously approved two siting agreements on Nov. 13 that clear the way for 4MW battery energy storage systems at Central Virginia Electric Cooperative substations in Colleen and Piney River.
Gabby Mayer of LightShift Energy told the Board that the siting agreements—authorized under state code—are voluntary negotiations between the applicant and the county. Mayer said each project includes an $8,000 local allocation and a $10,000 charitable donation to a county-selected organization at the ribbon-cutting. She also described emergency-response coordination with the fire department and county emergency personnel and noted that LightShift works with local emergency responders in pre-construction planning.
"Once signed, the locality considers the project substantially in accord with the comprehensive plan," Mayer said, summarizing the siting agreement’s community and emergency-response provisions. With no public speakers at the evening hearing, the Board voted 4–0 to adopt Resolution R2025-79 and authorized the County Administrator to execute the agreements and related documents.
Supervisor J. David Parr emphasized the Board’s ability to choose the charitable-donation recipients and requested the Board’s input on where the funds should go. County staff said similar agreements in other localities were under review but that those projects were not yet operational.
The resolutions approve voluntary siting agreements; they do not by themselves authorize construction. LightShift indicated the project will include emergency-response training for local responders as part of the agreement terms. The County’s authorization allows the administrator and county attorney to finalize and sign required documents on the Board’s behalf.