Zoning change clears way for solar energy in Eastern Shore
Zoning changes approved last week by the Northampton County Board of Supervisors could clear the way for large-scale solar energy development in this remote Eastern Shore county.
The Board of Supervisors established a floating solar energy district that will allow commercial-scale solar development on tracts of land up to 220 acres throughout the county.
Two major renewable energy companies – Community Energy Inc. and Lincoln Renewable Energy LLC – have been working with members of the Board of Supervisors since last fall to draft ordinances and zoning regulations to allow the development of large-scale solar installations in the county.
Last year Community Energy signed a 24-year lease on more than 100 acres in Tasley to build a 5 megawatt solar farm. The company hopes to expand beyond the first 100 acres in the future in the hopes of building a much larger scale solar farm to produce as much as 60 megawatts.
Similar zoning changes were adopted by Clarke County supervisors in June to attract a 20 megawatt solar farm proposed by another major midwestern renewable energy company.
Halifax County is currently lobbying the Virginia Tobacco Commission for a $5 million grant that would enable the county to partner with Dominion to build a $28 million, 4 megawatt solar power plant. The proposed Halifax site would also conduct testing of advanced, cutting-edge battery technologies to improve the storage capacity of solar energy.
