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Back on Sept. 9, 2021, the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors voted to put a solar facilities ordinance in place. It was meant as a starting point, as the county policies only had a small section referencing solar facilities. 

But with that in mind, county officials went back to the drawing board, putting more definitive solar information in both the newly approved comprehensive plan and this proposal, which is a list of amendments to be considered during the board’s Thursday, May 8 meeting, to the overall solar facilities ordinance. 

Some pieces of the ordinance are expected and fairly simple. They spell out exactly what a potential solar developer has to do, in order to have their project considered in Lunenburg. First, they have to meet with the County Zoning Administrator to go over the location, scale and nature of the project. That way, if any part of the project violates county ordinances, the developer is informed and can either scrap the idea or rework it. If the project makes it through that first step, then the developer has to hold a community meeting, at least 30 days before it goes before the planning commission. Nearby property owners have to be notified in writing about this meeting no less than 14 days before it happens. 

Also, the rules state that if county staff come across part of the project, be it construction, electrical connection or anything they don’t understand, the county will then bring in a third-party consultant to go over the data, which will be paid for by the developer. That third-party reviewers and their estimated costs will be submitted to the applicant for approval before the costs are incurred, so that nobody is caught unaware. 

Detailing solar impact on wildlife and traffic

In the application itself, the developer has to show any and all expected or potential wildlife or cultural impacts their project could have. By that, we’re referring to specifically a “report on the potential impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitats at the site and within a three (3) mile radius of the proposed facility.” The cultural report, meanwhile, must include data “provided by the Virginia Historic Resources, Virginia Cultural Resource Information System. (This) must be submitted to identify historical, architectural, archeological, or other cultural resources at the site and within a three mile radius of the proposed facility, being measured from the Site Perimeter.”

The developer also has to provide a traffic plan, including both the impact of the construction process and decommissioning, after the solar project’s lifespan is over. How will it affect local roads and residents? That hauling route has to be approved by county officials before it can be used. 

And speaking of decommissioning, the proposed amendments go into that as well. Before anything is approved, the company first has to show how much decommissioning would cost and then provide evidence they have the money in place to pay for it. By that, we mean specifically “the method of ensuring that funds will be available.” Maybe the money is set aside, maybe it’s built into their budget. But they have to show how it’ll be paid and by who, so that the county isn’t stuck with the bill. The developer also has to show a cost estimate for both decommissioning and reclamation of the facility, prepared by a professional engineer or contractor, one specifically with experience “in the removal of solar facilities.” 

Rules for approval 

When supervisors discuss and vote on a solar project, that application has to include several pieces. First, all signs on the property have to follow Lunenburg’s sign ordinance. Noise levels, during and after construction, must also follow the county rules. Lighting has to be limited to only the “minimum necessary for security purposes and shall be designed to minimize off-site effects.” The rules also state that the lighting shall comply with any “Dark Skies” ordinance the county may adopt or amend at any time. 

As for the height of the panels, “the maximum height of the lowest edge of photovoltaic panels shall be ten feet as measured from the finished grade. Solar energy generation facilities shall not exceed a height of 15 feet, which shall be measured from the highest natural grade below each solar panel.” Now the board of supervisors have the authority to approve a greater height, according to the amendments, but that would be on a case by case basis. 

The property also can’t be barren. Groundcover on the site is required, and “shall consist of pollinator plants, grasses, forbs, and wildflowers native to the County.” 

As for where a project could be located? The rules are pretty clear on that as well. 

“Solar facilities should locate on brownfields, County-owned capped landfills, or near existing industrial uses, where feasible (but not within areas designated for growth),” the amendments state. 

It’s also very clear on where the projects should not go, stating “solar facilities shall not be located within 2 miles from a town. The distance shall be measured from the site perimeter to the town boundary.” 

Solar up for discussion 

As mentioned, the amendments will be discussed and potentially voted on during the board of supervisors meeting on Thursday, May 8.