Planning commission recommends approval of 3.8 MW Prince Edward Solar 2 with added conditions

The Prince Edward County Planning Commission on Thursday voted unanimously to recommend approval of a special-use permit for Prince Edward Solar 2, a proposed 3.8‑megawatt shared-solar facility on a 77.53‑acre parcel (tax map 043‑8‑36B), with additional conditions addressing visual screening, construction traffic and site logistics.

Planning staff introduced the application and told the commission it must determine whether the project is substantially in accord with the county's 2045 comprehensive plan under Virginia Code ' 15.2‑2232 before forwarding a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Staff noted there are 45 draft conditions and called attention to a comp‑plan best‑management practice that recommends a 150‑foot buffer from residences and historic resources; the county's zoning setback is 75 feet.

The applicant's representative described the project as a 3.8 MW AC shared/"community" solar installation with single‑axis (north–south) arrays, perimeter fencing and plans for stormwater management. He emphasized decommissioning provisions and financial assurance: "we have a formula that's based on pilings, racking, acreage" to calculate the…