A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 66F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..
Partly cloudy skies. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: May 7, 2026 @ 7:52 am
LUCI WELDON/The Warren Record
A large crowd gathered for Monday night’s commissioners meeting where more than 40 people signed up to speak during the public hearing. Those on both sides of the larger-scale solar farm debate wore buttons or tags to exprss their point of view. A cuuple of speakers praised the opportunity for both sides to come together for a polite discussion.
LUCI WELDON/The Warren Record
A large crowd gathered for Monday night’s commissioners meeting where more than 40 people signed up to speak during the public hearing. Those on both sides of the larger-scale solar farm debate wore buttons or tags to exprss their point of view. A cuuple of speakers praised the opportunity for both sides to come together for a polite discussion.
During a meeting that lasted more than four hours, the Warren County Board of Commissioners Monday night unanimously voted to accept the recommendation of the county Planning Board to not approve any of the text amendments to Warren County’s solar farm ordinance requested by Tyr Energy Development Resources and others. The amendments would have allowed larger-scale solar farms projects with certain conditions such as strict regulations for buffers and decommissioning plans. The board’s decision upholds the county’s existing solar farm ordinance that was amended in 2022 to cap the size of solar farms at 150 acres.
Attorney Thomas E. Terrell, Jr. of Fox Rothchild requested the amendments to the ordinance on behalf of Tyr Energy Development Renewables and subsidiaries Horizon Solar East, LLC and Horizon Solar West LLC (TED Renewables), joined by landowners Harry M. Leete, HD Forestry LLC, and Powell Realm Inc.
Last year, TED Renewables announced its Horizon Solar proposed to be made up of an east site and a west site. Horizon Solar East refers to an area on the south and east sides of the Five Forks intersection off Churchill Road. Horizon Solar West refers to an area south off Paschall Road between Paschall Station Road and Hawtree Creek, just south of the Virginia state line. Combined, the two sites include an estimated 900 acres. The Horizon Solar design capacity is 160 megawatts. The proposed Horizon Solar project involves two sites of approximately 450 acres each that are located about 10 miles apart.
Warren County Planning, Zoning & Code Enforcement Director Mark Bloomer discussed the requested text amendments during the Board of County Commissioners’ April 15 work session and outlined the Planning Board’s vote to not allow any of the requested changes to the county ordinance. During Monday’s meeting, he told commissioners that the main question regarding the requested amendments centered on whether the amendments are consistent with the county’s strategic plan and goals.
In the board agenda packet for the April work session, Bloomer listed some goals of the Comprehensive Plan as follows: encourage participation in programs designed to ensure sustainability of agricultural resources for future generations, encourage a development pattern that protects rural character and key natural assets and encourage preservation of open space and natural resources in new development.
During Monday’s meeting, Bloomer said that the proposed amendments to solar farm ordinance would apply to the whole county, not just the TED Renewables/ Horizon Solar project.
Board of County Commissioners’ Chairman Al Cooper asked about the precedent that the proposed solar farm ordinance amendments would set. Bloomer replied that they would “open the door to solar farms of any size,” adding that such farms could be located next to each other. He also said that the proposed amendments would set a precedent for large-scale development in general.
County Commissioner Tare “T” Davis asked about the size of the largest existing solar farm in Warren County — which came before the 150-acre size limitations. Bloomer said that the largest solar farm is around 700 acres.
Board of County Commissioners Vice Chairman Victor Hunt asked about long-term impacts of the ordinance amendments. Bloomer said that allowing larger solar farms “could potentially tie up large areas of land for 30 years or more.”
Davis asked TED Renewables representatives why the board should consider the requested text amendments.
Dylan Stickney, director of Project Management with TED Renewables, said that TED has been working on the Horizon Solar project for more than five years, and was reaching out to landowners and moving forward with the project before the solar farm ordinance was amended to limit the size to 150 acres. He said that the amendment prevented the development of new projects.
“We want to be a great asset to the county,” Stickney said. “Our first investments in the project were in 2021.”
Cooper asked how many people the Horizon Solar Project would employ. Stickney said that each of the project’s two sites would need 250 construction workers. After completion of the project, there would be four to six employees at each site, he added.
County attorney Shiekel Richardson asked commissioners to remember that the requested text amendments would not focus on one specific project, but would apply to the county as a whole.
The discussion came during a public hearing that preceded the board’s regular monthly meeting.
More than 40 people signed up to speak during the citizens’ comments portion of the public hearing. Depending on who was in favor of the proposed amendments or not, there was loud applause when many of the speakers finished talking. Those in favor of or opposing larger-scale solar projects wore buttons or tags illustrating their point of view.
Those who opposed changing the solar farm ordinance included residents of both Warren County and other areas. One said that runoff from the panels at an existing solar farm near Lake Gaston created a “muddy mess” in the lake. Another asked why TED Renewables representatives didn’t propose locating the Horizon Solar Project in the county where they live “if the project is so great.”
A number of speakers in opposition raised other environmental concerns, contended that electricity generated by the Horizon Solar Project would not go to Warren County residents, and said that allowing one company to amend a county ordinance would mean that all others who want to do the same must be allowed as well. One speaker said that local residents, people from other counties and other states, as well as hunting clubs have told him that the county ordinance should remain the same. Another said that solar farms damage instead of rejuvenate land. One speaker said that the proposed amendments are not consistent with the county’s Comprehensive Plan or zoning ordinance.
A resident of Lawrenceville, Va., said that her home is surrounded by three solar farms, with switchyards scheduled to come to the area.
Others said that community solar is needed, but larger-scale solar is harmful.
The theme of environmental justice was repeated by speakers on both sides of the issue. Those in favor of the proposed amendments referred to solar power as renewable energy that could protect the environment. Those in opposition said that larger-scale solar facilities would harm the environment.
Those who expressed support for the proposed amendments included landowners, other local citizens, and representatives of TED Renewables, the Center for Energy Education and the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network.
Representatives of TED Renewables said that plans for the Horizon Solar Project have changed to address local concerns such as setbacks and buffers, and said that the project will bring jobs and other economic benefits to the county. One speaker said that the climate has changed considerably over the past 50 years with impacts such as more intense droughts. He said that solar energy offers the benefit of no pollution.
An Asheville resident and member of its Board of Adjustments said that solar farms such as the Horizon Solar Project provide income for communities while allowing land to “rest” for many years. “Now is the time to invest in partnerships,” she said.
Others said that other North Carolina counties have approved text amendments similar like those that have requested. A number of citizens said that allowing larger-scale solar would bring opportunity to Warren County. One said that the proposed amendments would provide the county with the choice to approve projects that would benefit the county, and deny those that would harm it. Others spoke about allowing landowners to utilize their property as they deemed best.
During the board’s discussion before the vote, Warren County Assistant County Manager Matthew Garner responded to a question about whether existing language about decommissioning in the current ordinance needs to be strengthened. Assistant County Manager Matthew Garner said that state decommissioning requirements would automatically supersede county requirements.
When the board voted to accept the Planning Board’s recommendation not to approve any of the requested amendments, there was loud applause from those who had opposed the requested changes.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don’t miss out on updates.
We’ll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen!
Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
