Solar Farm Plan Moving Forward in Orange County

The Orange County Board of Commissioners is moving forward with a plan that will allow a solar farm to be built on a 52-acre patch of land off of Highway 70 West.

The plan was made by solar energy companies Calvert Energy and ESA Renewables. Calvert Energy CEO Brian Quinlan presented the plan to the board Monday night. Quinlan says the companies need approval of a special permit to allow for the zoning of the solar panels.

“It’s been reviewed fairly extensively by both the clearing house at the state level with a variety of different departments here at the county level.”

Quinlan also says the 52-acres of land are the perfect type to develop this type of solar project.

“The site is surrounded by a lot of wetlands and water features, which makes it a difficult development from a higher-intensity perspective. But for lower intensity development, like a solar project, it works very well.”

But even though the land is good for the solar panels, Commissioner Barry Jacobs asked at the hearing whether the solar panels would be bad for animals already living on the land.

Chris Sandifer is an engineering consultant for solar farm siting. He attended the hearing to answer questions and provide testimony. He says nothing would be harmed.

“No sir. I’m not aware of any study that shows that it causes wildlife a problem.”

Sandifer also says the panels won’t harm people either.

“There’s no smell; there’s no dust; there’s no radiation; these panels use no nuclear radiation.”

Quinlan says the point of the solar farm is to do good and not bad to all who live in Orange County.

“Solar projects are safe for the community. They develop their power at a low-voltage level. All of the wiring and components are underwriter laboratory approved, the design is approved by the county, we have to get a construction permit to make sure that we’re meeting all the local codes.”

If approved, nce the design and construction process are started, the plan is expected to take about six months to install once the design and construction process has started.