Partly cloudy. High 39F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..
Cloudy. Low near 30F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: February 24, 2026 @ 12:37 pm
Rockingham County Supervisor Sallie Wolfe-Garrison speaks during an opening celebration for the Silver Lake Nature Trail at Silver Lake Mill in June of 2025.
Rockingham County Supervisor Sallie Wolfe-Garrison speaks during an opening celebration for the Silver Lake Nature Trail at Silver Lake Mill in June of 2025.
At the meeting of the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 11, permitting for a solar farm in the industrial area of Kratzer Road was considered. All who testified spoke in favor of the project.
With only one supervisor explaining her vote, and none addressing any of the comments offered by the public during the hearing, the board unanimously voted against the solar farm. Why?
The development in question would not be on prime farmland. It was to be in an area designated by the Rockingham Comprehensive Plan as industrial. It would have been built near other industrial-use properties, thus consolidating industrial use. Because it is solar, there would be no harmful pollution. It would not have had any negative health effect on the people who live in the area.
Not only is Virginia currently a net importer of electricity, much of it from fossil-fuels, which are detrimental to the health and beauty of Shenandoah Valley and the health of our residents while data centers are increasing the need for energy in Virginia. As a result, regardless of zip code, we ratepayers will inevitably see our electric bills rise.
By providing up to 5 megawatts of clean electricity, this project would have eased the shortage. Every little bit counts. A solar farm can be built far more quickly than another unhealthy coal or gas-generated plant and would not pollute the area like fossil-fuels do.
At this location, construction of the solar farm would have required no trees to be cut. In fact, it would have included a tree sanctuary. No wetland would have been degraded and no water would have been impacted. The company requesting the permit is CEP Solar, a Virginia-based company committed to long-term economic and environmental benefit. Given all these positives, how is it reasonable the board flatly denied the permit?
After complimenting the company on its excellent preparation and presentation, Supervisor Wolfe-Garrison, in whose district the solar farm would have been, introduced the motion to deny the permit. She said the priority of the board was to create jobs, and that the County Comprehensive Plan calls for manufacturing in that area.
Supervisor Wolfe-Garrison’s remarks and the unanimous denial of the board was a stunning response to public support. Yes, jobs are important, but so is electricity. It is necessary to run the businesses that manufacture and produce goods in our area. It is necessary for the businesses that employ people in our area. It is necessary for the homes of people who live and work and want to live and work in our area.
Supervisor Wolfe-Garrison’s remarks and the unanimous denial of the Board was a stunning response to public support. Yes, jobs are important, but so is electricity. It is necessary to run the businesses that manufacture and produce goods in our area. It is necessary for the businesses that employ people in our area. It is necessary for the homes of people who live and work and want to live and work in our area. How is a utility-scale solar farm not industrial? It manufactures electricity that supports jobs, which would seem to address Supervisor Wolfe-Garrison’s concerns.
The board’s rejection of a utility-scale solar farm in an industrial-use area was disappointing. We need more energy — clean energy – for homes, for businesses that employ and create jobs, and for ratepayers facing ever-increasing energy bills.
It should have been.
Janet I. Trettner
Keezleton
1 BD upstairs Apt w/office/nursery, in town Luray, water incl., avail. 3/1, $800 S.D. + $800/mo., (540) 422-5433
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with…
DIVORCE-Uncontested, $475+$86 court cost. WILLS-$295.00. No court appearance. Estimated completion time twenty-one da…
Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design an…
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
