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Charles City County boards approve ~28,000 feet of underground lines to connect Keydet Solar South, with monitoring and decommissioning requirements
Summary
On Oct. 7, 2024 the Wetlands and Chesapeake Bay boards recommended approval for Blue Ridge Power to bury about 28,000 linear feet of medium-voltage lines through wetlands to serve the Keydet Solar South project, imposing site-plan, E&S and inspection conditions and noting a $2.3 million decommissioning surety for the solar panels.
Charles City County staff presented an application from Blue Ridge Power on Oct. 7, 2024 to install roughly 28,000 linear feet of underground medium-voltage lines through existing wetlands and resource protection areas (East Run, Salem Run, West Run and the Chickahominy TDSA) to connect solar arrays at the Keydet Solar South project to on-site transformers.
Sheri Adams summarized the project and recommended approval subject to standard conditions: a building permit, a licensed site plan showing landscaping and erosion-and-sediment-control (E&S) measures, use of native species for plantings (trees at least 4 feet tall; shrubs at least 2 feet), and a pre-construction meeting with the CBPA inspector. Staff said the lines will generally be buried using trenching (the largest trench about 4 feet wide) and will follow the National Electrical Code for burial depth (at least 24 inches). Staff also noted a decommissioning surety bond for the solar panels in the amount of $2.3 million.
Several residents raised concerns during public comment. Charles and Savannah Pacheco said portions of the line would run behind their home and expressed worries about placing high-voltage infrastructure under marsh and water, and about impacts to wildlife, pets and people; Mr. Pacheco asked, "how the line would be replaced and how the line was going to be protected." Lloyd Carter referenced the existing Special Use Permit on file and noted it may allow infrastructure deeper than 36 inches to remain at decommissioning.
Madeleine Ray, representing AES and speaking for Blue Ridge Power, said the company planned to place lines in conduit and would take precautions to protect wildlife, people and vegetation, adding that "all precautions will be taken for the safety of wildlife, pets, people and vegetation" and that strict emergency steps are in place. Staff said the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will inspect stormwater controls and the County will follow up on any complaints; staff also asked Blue Ridge Power to address road dust during construction (wetting the road was requested).
The Wetlands Board recommended approval of the underground-line application on a motion by E. Van Pearce, seconded by Joanne Daniel, by a 4–0 vote; the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Board later recommended approval of the same application, also by a 4–0 vote. Conditions and post-approval monitoring are intended to limit sediment, dust and potential contaminant releases during construction and to ensure decommissioning funds are in place.
