Tracking Solar In Jefferson County

As of May 2023, the Jefferson County Office of Planning and Zoning has received concept plans for the construction of four industrial-scale solar projects. The Blake project submitted its concept plan in August 2022. The Wild Hill project submitted its concept plan in September 2022 and obtained its zoning certificate in October 2022. The Torch Rippon project submitted its concept plan in November 2022. The Flowing Springs project submitted its concept plan in May 2023.

The Blake, Wild Hill, and Torch Rippon projects were required to obtain conditional use permits for the parcels of these projects in the rural zoning district outside of the designated growth boundary. The Flowing Springs project does not require a conditional use permit as all of the parcels for this project are in the designated growth boundary.

[Resource: Planning & Zoning Office Tracks Solar Projects]

The Blake project received a building permit in early 2023 and is currently under construction.

[Read More: Blake Project Receives Multiple Environmental Violation Notices]

The Wild Hill, Torch Rippon, and Flowing Springs projects have not yet applied for building permits.

A Timeline For Solar In Jefferson County

In early 2020, a landowner in the Kabletown district petitioned the Jefferson County Planning Commission to amend the county’s zoning ordinance to allow for commercial-scale solar projects to be developed in Jefferson County. This initial request asked to allow solar facilities as a conditional use in the rural zoning district. Acting on that request, the County twice attempted and failed to amend the county’s zoning ordinance to permit solar projects. The County Commission voted on April 5, 2022 for a settlment in the court case that had blocked the second attempt and began the process to redraft and review a modified amendment to permit solar projects.

[READ MORE: Amending the County Zoning Ordinance — A Timeline]

How Solar Plugs Into The Power Grid

The process for siting and connecting a new source of power to the energy grid requires years of planning and research. Part of this process includes a review by PJM Interconnection (PJM). PJM evaluates new projects to determine the feasibility and requirements for connecting to grid in West Virginia, as well as in several other states in the central and eastern U.S.

The PJM Connection Queue is an online database that tracks the all proposed utility-scale energy projects in the Mid-Atlantic. Currently, five utility-scale solar projects have been proposed in Jefferson County. Although there is some capacity for additional projects in Jefferson County, suitable sites are much more limited than zoning maps might indicate.

[READ MORE: Mapping Utility-Scale Solar Projects in Jefferson County]

A Discussion In The Community

The community discussion of commercial-scale solar generation facilities touches on issues related to the environment, land use, the local farm economy, the regional economy, and the effect of these large-scale facilities on adjacent residential and agricultural land owners.

Balancing Land Use

Land is a limited resource, which is why making decisions about land use often turns into a balancing act of priorities. From preserving scenic vistas, to building affordable housing, to increasing renewable and dependable energy sources, and encouraging economic growth, all of these concerns come into play when trying to define what balanced land use means.

[READ MORE: Concerns about zoning rules for utility-scale solar development]