KING WILLIAM — A bid to build a small solar farm in a rural part of King William County failed to win the support of the planning commission last week.
DG King William Solar LLC requested a conditional use permit for a “small-scale solar facility in the agricultural district.”
The West Point Solar Energy Center, a 4.6-megawatt farm on 94 acres at 31903 King William Road, would occupy 23.6 acres of the site, according to County Planner Joyce Wolfe. The facility would help meet the aims of the Virginia Clean Energy Act of 2020, which sets targets intended to reach net-zero greenhouse emissions in the state by 2045.
Six members of the public expressed concerns about the proposal during a public hearing on Dec. 2. Some claimed it could impact the values of nearby land and deprive the county of farm land. Just one speaker spoke in support of the application.
The Board of Supervisors adopted a policy to regulate the development of solar facilities in 2024. The policy restricts new solar farms to those of 5 megawatts or less, aims to avoid clustering of the facilities and discourages them in certain areas, such as near parks, scenic roads or National Register Historic Districts.
The proposed site is in an agricultural are and would require the demolition of an existing home and outbuilding. A traffic study concluded that the facility would have a minimal impact on local roads, generating about 50 trips a day during construction and about 12 during operation.
Construction would begin in May 2026, if the $7.5 million project were approved. The solar farm has a shelf life of about 35 years.
Commission Chair Darrell Kellum raised concerns that residents already have over water run-off issues with Sweet Sue, an existing solar project — and much larger solar farm — in King William County.
DG King William Solar has proposed extensive landscaping to hide the solar farm from Route 30, including 50 “full forest” buffer plantings and an earth berm. If the Board of Supervisors approves the solar facility, it would be the second to be allowed in the county this year.
Planning staff recommended approval of the facility subject to 10 conditions, including the completion of the project within two years of the granting of a conditional use permit, adequate screening and the use of sheep to keep the grass under control.
Jonathan White of solar power company Madison Energy said the small-scale project would be far less intrusive than larger solar farms. He said 11 farmable acres would remain open for agricultural use while 12 acres would be placed into a permanent open space conservation easement.
The arguments did not convince the commissioners.
“There is a need for solar,” Kellam said. “Unfortunately, the two big projects we have in the county, farmland was eaten up by solar.”
The commission ultimately voted 5-0 to give an unfavorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which will make the final decision.
David Macaulay, [email protected]