Big Plans for Solar Farm to Be Discussed Again This Month in Washington County, VA

Washington County, VA – A company proposing a large-scale solar farm in Washington County, Virginia, is set to address county officials with updated plans later this month. This will be the second time this year that the Texas-based Catalyst Energy will make their case, after their initial proposal faced strong opposition in June.

Back in June, the Washington County Planning Commission gave a thumbs down to the company’s special exception request to construct the solar farm on around 2,000 acres of agricultural and industrial land. The proposal didn’t even make it to the Board of Supervisors because Catalyst opted to withdraw their application in light of the considerable public pushback and the hundreds of signatures gathered on petitions against the project.

The concern from the public mainly centered around the proximity of the proposed solar farm to residential areas, as well as potential issues with water runoff and drainage into nearby creeks and wells. Some members of the Board of Supervisors also had their reservations about the scale of the project during a meeting in July.

Recently, however, supervisors have engaged in discussions with Catalyst officials to listen to their updated plans. What’s known so far is that the company has trimmed down its proposal significantly. According to Stephen Richardson, the zoning official for Washington County, the new plan involves a much smaller area.

“What they have indicated is much smaller,” Richardson noted. Catalyst plans to provide solar energy to the Wolf Hills Energy Plant and subsequently sell it on the electric grid. They currently have leases for part of the initial proposal, including nearly 400 acres of industrial-zoned land. This segment can proceed without county intervention, Richardson explained. However, the company would still need a special exception permit to lease agricultural land for as long as 35 years.

The company’s CEO, Matt Cheney, is set to make a presentation at the Washington County Planning Commission meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on August 26 in the government center building in Abingdon. Cheney will also speak the following day at 6:30 p.m. during the Board of Supervisors meeting, also to be held in Abingdon at the government center.

Richardson remarked, “They will make a presentation,” adding that “they want to educate both boards about Catalyst and their financial backers.” Importantly, he emphasized that “there will be no vote” during these meetings. Although these sessions won’t include public hearings on future solar farm proposals, there will be a time allocated for public comments.

These upcoming presentations could be a critical turning point for the project and may influence future discussions and decisions. Citizens and local officials alike will be keenly watching to see if the updated plans address their earlier concerns sufficiently.

Washington County residents have expressed a mix of reactions to these developments. Some still hold strong reservations about the impact of the solar farm on their daily lives, while others are open to hearing the revised plans. Community members are hopeful that the new proposal will strike a balance between the county’s agricultural roots and the push for renewable energy.

In the backdrop of this local drama, the larger national conversation about energy sustainability continues to evolve. Projects like Catalyst’s are seen as stepping stones to a greener future but are also met with legitimate concerns about immediate consequences on local communities and environments.

As August 26 approaches, anticipation builds. Will Catalyst’s revised proposal win over the hearts and minds of Washington County’s decision-makers and residents this time around? Only time will tell. What’s clear, though, is that the conversation around sustainable energy is not going away anytime soon, and local voices will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping its trajectory.