~ PVN staff report
LURAY, Aug. 12 — Solar project developer Urban Grid recently announced a 30-day comment period and a public meeting scheduled for next month to offer more details about a 20-megawatt solar farm near Stanley.
Dogwood Solar was approved by the Page County Board of Supervisors more than two years ago, but the county had placed a moratorium on the project until the board could adopt a solar ordinance to guide future projects. However, with no ordinance resulting from two years of work by the planning commission and a hired consultant, Urban Grid has moved forward with submitting applications to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to pave the way for construction.
“The project has been approved by the Page County Board of Supervisors under a Special Use Permit,” reads a legally required Public Notice published this week. “The proposed project is now proceeding through the Virginia Permit by Rule process.”
The Dogwood facility is proposed to sit on “350 acres located along Dam Acres Road approximately 4 miles west of Stanley.” At 20 megawatts, the facility would sit at the median output among the 140 solar projects currently listed in Virginia.
“The project will have a maximum capacity of 20 Megawatts Alternating Current (AC) utilizing traditional photovoltaic solar modules which will rotate on a single axis to track the sun,” the notice reads. “Approximately 55,900 panels will be utilized with a maximum height of 12 [feet].”
A 30-day comment period — from Sept. 3, 2021 to Oct. 3, 2021 — will be held to allow public input and inquiries about the Dogwood project.
“We welcome the opportunity to present this project to interested parties,” the notice reads. “The purpose of the public participation is to:
• (i) acquaint the public with the technical aspects of the proposed project and how the standards and the requirements of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality PBR regulations will be met,
• (ii) identify issues of concern,
• (iii) facilitate communication, and
• (iv) establish a dialogue between the owner or operator and persons who may be affected by the project.”
Any interested parties may contact the applicant to ask questions or provide comments, view the application materials during the public comment period at the Kibler Library in Stanley or request a copy of the application materials by contacting:
Urabn Grid Solar Project, LLC
ATTN: Robert Propes
337 Log Canoe Circle, Stevensville, Md. 21666
443-642-1280
Robert.Propes@UrbanGridCo.com
A public meeting will be held on September 22, 2021, from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at The Mimslyn Inn, located at 401 W. Main St., Luray.
“Information will be presented on poster boards in a space that will allow for social distancing,” the Public Notice reads. “Individuals may be required to wait to enter if capacity of the space is exceeded. Face coverings will be required. Questions and comments will be addressed and documented by Dogwood Solar, LLC representatives while maintaining social distancing practices.”
Copies of the documentation to be submitted to the DEQ in support of the Permit by Rule application will be available for inspection during the public comment period at the Kibler Library, 140 East Main Street, Stanley, VA and on the following website: http://www.urbangridsolar.com/news
•••
RELATED ARTICLES
Local solar farm issues on hold
Supervisors keep orbiting solar ordinance, but can’t land on agreement amid accusations
Be the first to comment