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Lake Shawnee residents urge pause on new solar proposal amid unresolved problems from earlier project
Summary
Multiple Lake Shawnee residents told the board they oppose a new Dimension Energy project sited near feeder streams because they say the earlier Northridge solar installation still has erosion, sediment and enforcement problems; they asked the county to fix inspection and enforcement gaps before approving another large solar farm.
Crystal Escalette and Joanna Callaway — speaking for Lake Shawnee neighborhoods — told the board they oppose a conditional use permit for a new solar project proposed by Dimension Energy, citing the unfinished corrective work and ongoing compliance disputes stemming from the Northridge Solar Farm.
Escalette said: "We will not take that risk again. The board should not be willing to gamble with the very water that feeds our lakes when we are still dealing with the consequences of the last gamble." She recounted muddy runoff and long delays in enforcement and corrective measures, saying those failures left property owners to bear the burden. Callaway said inspection reports showed repeated inspection failures and missed deadlines and asked whether Powhatan currently has sufficient inspection staff and a reliable enforcement process for projects of this scale.
Both speakers asked the board to delay or deny new large solar permits until the county can demonstrate improved staffing, consistent inspections, and clear enforcement protocols. The presenters urged the board to demand stronger permit conditions and ongoing verification of erosion and sediment controls before approving new projects sited near waterways.
