A massive solar power plant could come to northern Virginia

WASHINGTON – Northern Virginia could host one of the largest solar power plants in the country and a public hearing on the project is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

The solar power company sPower wants to build the 500 megawatt project on about 3,500 acres of land in western Spotsylvania County. The total area of ​​the site is 6,350 acres. At least 2,000 acres will be preserved as an open space.

See an interactive map of the project site.

Why so big?

"By the end of 2016, we identified a growing need for green power in Virginia, focused on leading data center vendors," said Daniel Menahem, senior director of solar development at sPower.

The electricity buyers would include Apple, Microsoft, Akamai, Etsy and the University of Richmond.

"[The] Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, [and] The Amazons of the world have all and continue to locate their data centers in Virginia because 70% of the internet in the world goes through Ashburn, "said Menahem.

"These same companies have also announced in recent years that they want to switch to 100% renewable energy. These data centers consume a lot of energy. [and] hungry for energy. "

But some local residents are not convinced by this idea, citing concerns about the extent of the proposed facility and its proximity to historic battlefields.

"We are not anti-solar. We do not think that this particular size plant is perfect for a residential area, "said Kevin McCarthy, a resident of the county, member of the grassroots opposition group Concerned Citizens of Spotsylvania County.

"It's a human-sized powerhouse, and it has no reason to be at the crossroads of civil war," McCarthy said. "This solar power station would be located two or three kilometers from three Civil War battlefields – the Wilderness, Chancellorsville and Spotsylvania Courthouse Battlefields."

The group also opposes it for other reasons.

"We use at least 3,000 to 4,000 acres of trees to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and install a solar plant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," McCarthy said. "It does not make much sense to us."

Menahem argued that the benefits to the community include an influx of property taxes. "The project will pay more than $ 20 million in property taxes over the 35 years of the project … currently, the 6,000 acres are paying $ 20,000 per year in property taxes. So in those same 35 years, only $ 700,000. "

But McCarthy does not agree.

"We estimate that the country will lose tens of millions of dollars, with tax revenues of 20 to 80 million dollars," he said, because the value of existing home properties will drop residential lots will be sold to sPower if the plan is adopted.

Menahem said that no less than 1,000 jobs in the construction sector will be created over two years and that once completed, the project will generate 25 to 30 full-time jobs.

The company is also committed to adding solar panels to school roofs, partnering with Germanna Community College for training programs and using the powerhouse as an educational center.

Menahem also said that the power had changed its plans in response to some community concerns.

"Instead of using groundwater, which, as landowners, would be our right … because two-thirds of our neighbors are well-watered, we can understand the water." The anxiety that this gives rise to. We will help, at our expense, fund a water pipeline – an extension and expansion of the water line – to allow us to connect to the municipal water system. "

McCarthy replied, "sPower has agreed to use the county's water, but they agree to pay only half of the infrastructure needed to build it. Then the county will have to pay the other half. "

More than 1,000 people signed a petition launched by concerned citizens of Spotsylvania County in an effort to stop the project.

But the proposal has already been approved by the Commonwealth. "The project does not have a negative impact on Virginia taxpayers and the project does not have a negative impact on the network," Menahem said.

It remains to be seen if the county will sign special use permits.

A public hearing will be held at the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors meeting, scheduled to begin at 16:30. Tuesday.

Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to start a conversation about this article and others.

© 2019 WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located in the European Economic Area.