UPDATE 3/12/2019: Shenandoah County Planning Commission voted to table Shenandoah Solar’s application for a utility scale solar installation. Applicant to provide more complete application and county do more research. See article in Northern Virginia Daily.
The Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors is considering a special use permit for a proposed utility-scale solar installation on 200 acres in Edinburg on agriculturally zoned land adjacent to the County Landfill. The installation is expected to generate 50 Megawatts of electricity. Click here for additional details on the proposal and comments from agency reviews. The Board of Supervisors will hear comments on the proposal at the March 7 meeting at 7pm at the Shenandoah County Government Center.
Utility-scale solar installations, in which the power is sold onto the grid, have been on the rise in the Shenandoah Valley, prompted by declining cost of solar panels, rising demand for green energy, and renewable energy requirements in 2018 state legislation.
The Alliance believes when considering utility-scale installations, as with all development projects, consideration should be given to context and local community planning documents. Impacts to local communities, including agriculture, scenic and historic resources, and erosion, must be carefully considered in siting decisions.
To learn more about Alliance’s recommendations for utility-scale solar siting, click here.