The Riverstone Solar LLC Special Use Permit has EXPIRED!

But … the developer is asking the supervisors for a one year extension. This is on the agenda for tomorrow’s (Monday, March 11th) BOS meeting.

Please let supervisors know this extension is not wanted and is not in our best interest.

Email:
ddavis@buckinghamcounty.virginia.gov

cgilliam@buckinghamcounty.virginia.gov

pgarrett@buckinghamcounty.virginia.gov

hbryant@buckinghamcounty.virginia.gov

dallen@buckinghamcounty.virginia.gov

jchambers@buckinghamcounty.virginia.gov

mpalmore@buckinghamcounty.virginia.gov

1. Apex had two years to file a building permit with the County. They failed to do so. The developer’s salesman, Mr. Jimmy Merrick wrote the delay involves contracting, transmission, power sales, permitting and engineering.
2. If Apex wants to continue this project, they should be made to reapply and seek a new permit. A lot has changed since the project was publicly revealed in 2021 (nearly 3 years ago).
3. First ever Buckingham County Solar Policy was just adopted. When Riverstone was approved, there was NO Buckingham County Solar Policy. The new policy is a huge improvement over the Riverstone conditions. The County has determined the requirements in the Solar Policy are important protections and this facility is not utilizing them.
4. DEQ Solar regulations are about to change. A site like Rivestone’s with its steep slopes, vulnerable downstream neighbors, and a location steps from a stretch of the James River with scenic designation and home to threatened and endangered species should be afforded the protections of new State regulations. The State has determined the requirements in the new DEQ Solar regs are important protections and this facility is not required to use them.
5. Decommissioning costs were grossly underestimated. This is a major risk to the taxpayers of Buckingham County. Why? Taxpayers are the ones who will be very likely to be responsible for the cost of decommissioning and land reclamation. Without a large enough bond amount, County monies will be wasted cleaning up a nearly 2,000 acre industrial site. How far will the costs exceed money collected?
6. Siting Agreements are now displacing more of the loss and risk the industrial solar facilities burden rural counties. How does the Riverstone Siting Agreement compare? Without pen-to-paper analysis and financial forecasting, the balance sheet is left to speculation.
7. Riverstone Solar LLC is a massive project that would forever change nearly 3.1 square miles along Bridgeport Rd and Paynes Pond Rd. (That’s 5 times larger than Dillwyn.) The parcels encompass nearly 2,000 acres 1/4 mile from the James River. Containing the massive volume of runoff and sediment is likely impossible. A land disturbance of the magnitude required to eliminate steep terrain is an engineering nightmare. There is almost no land flat enough for what Apex said it would install. The site work and shear volume of cut and fill grading would be a mammoth undertaking.
8. The loss of forestry jobs and forestry related jobs damages the local economy. The industrial facility damages the forestry business that is vitally important to economic engine of the County. There are far fewer jobs post construction. The jobs during construction are temporary with most outsourced. There is lost revenue from the tourism dollars with the loss of the hunt clubs and their members. What additional tourism will be lost with damage to the river and the industrial landscape? The facility brings administrative costs the taxpayers must bear. Property values will decline and future property values will lag.
9. Environmentally, a working forest is many times superior to an industrial facility. The loss of critically important habitat is damaging. Soils are alive and killing them removes countless organisms. Sediment and runoff choke out aquatic life, damage waterways and destroy property. Habitat destruction kills and displaces wildlife. Plants and animals lost cannot be offset.

(Thank you to Scott F. for compiling this information together for us)