Developer outlines Allfield solar and battery plan, cites $500 million investment and school payments

Xander Bischoff, a project representative for M and A Energy, briefed the Hardy County Board of Education on the Allfield solar and battery-storage proposal, saying the project could involve about 900 acres inside fence lines with roughly 250 acres covered by panels and an estimated $500,000,000 total investment if built in full. "It'd be about a $500,000,000 investment if the whole project moves forward," Bischoff said, and he estimated roughly $30,000,000 in payments to local entities through property taxes and community benefits agreements.

Bischoff described two revenue paths: a payment-in-lieu/pilot tax that follows statutory dispersal rules and a contractually-negotiated community benefits agreement that would direct more funds to the Board of Education and the county. He offered a model for a 35‑year board-of-education community benefits agreement that begins at $228,000 per year, escalates at 2% annually, and would total roughly $11.5 million over the term. Bischoff said the company prefers to maximize funds channeled through community benefits agreements rather than solely through tax distributions because pilot revenues can be offset by changes in state aid formulas.

Residents and board members questioned wildlife, visual impacts and the decommissioning process. Bischoff said the firm will provide a state-required decommissioning plan and financial assurance (bond) to the Department of Environmental Protection but acknowledged concerns about whether that alone is sufficient; he proposed giving local officials a role in selecting the contractor that estimates decommissioning liabilities so the county can better oversee the process. The company also proposed an emergency-response plan, tree buffers to mitigate neighboring views, and financial-sharing offers for properties within 250 feet of the project boundary.

The developer projected local construction employment of roughly 150 workers on average (peaking above 200 for an 18‑month build window), about $90 million in construction wages, and an additional $60 million in community spending during construction. Bischoff said the solar component would generate enough energy for approximately 24,000 typical West Virginia homes when operational. Board members acknowledged the potential revenue but pressed for clear contractual protections, public disclosure of the exact payment formulas, and binding decommissioning safeguards before supporting approvals.