Board extends permit deadlines and amends siting agreement for local solar project

The Amelia County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to extend the start‑of‑construction and completion deadlines for the Midtown Energy Facility LLC solar project (special exception permit No. 22‑02) and to amend the facility's siting agreement to include an extension fee and higher initial annual payments with a 3.25% inflation escalator.

County staff explained that the General Assembly had extended permit deadlines to July 2025 and that local governing bodies may further extend deadlines by resolution. The resolution before the board would extend the deadlines by 18 months and update the revenue terms for the county. As staff summarized: “By approving the resolution, it both extends the permit deadlines and amends the siting agreement payment provision,” (speaker 12).

A company representative identified in the record as Sam (speaker 15) said interconnection with the regional grid operator (PJM) had been the primary delay and gave an updated timeline: “We expect to start construction middle of next year,” he said, and estimated commercial operation in late 2028 to early 2029.

Supervisor (speaker 7) moved to approve the resolution as drafted; the board approved the motion by voice/raised hands. The transcript records that the extension includes an upfront extension fee and a roughly 10% increase in the initial annual payment stream, followed by a 3.25% annual escalator, and that an initial installment will be deposited to the county's CIP when due.

Next steps: Staff will implement the resolution provisions and process the amended siting agreement. The transcript records approval by raised hands; individual roll‑call vote tallies were not recorded in the transcript.