In December of 2024, community members searched for their property in relation to the proposed solar panels sites that would be in Washington County during the open house event hosted by Catalyst Energy Partners.
The Chairman of the Board of Lee Enterprises received the prestigious Horatio Alger Award.
A Texas-based solar developer that failed to win approval for a project in Washington County Virginia two years ago is now promoting a smaller, revised plan.
Catalyst Energy Partners is marketing a solar panel project roughly half the size of one that failed to secure approval from the Washington County Planning Commission in 2024, after a widespread public outcry.
The newly proposed Wolf Hills solar site is about 900 acres, compared to the previously proposed 2,200 acres, according to marketing brochures sent to residents in the area. Of that 900 acres, about 470 acres are zoned for industrial use.
The new iteration would be located on the northwest and southeast sides of the existing Wolf Hills power plant in the Bristol-Washington County Industrial Park, in areas along and off of Wallace Pike, near Sugar Hollow Park, and between the industrial park and Lee Highway.
The previous plan includes 33 parcels in the western portion of the county, also near the border with Bristol Virginia.
“Wolf Hills Solar is sited to be co-located with the Wolf Hills energy facility, a natural gas fired power plant in Washington County,” according to the brochure.
All of the proposed area lies within BVU Authority’s service area, but that provider has no involvement in the proposed project, BVU President and CEO Don Bowman said last week.
The proposed solar farm would produce about 100 megawatts while the previous version was expected to produce about 260 megawatts.
Catalyst is proposing to sell the electricity through the grid at the Wolf Hills connection and that goes to AEP [American Electric Power], Bowman said.
BVU receives its power from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
About half of the proposed site is outside the industrial park on land zoned for agriculture, which was at the center of objections by some residents and county leaders. Catalyst addressed that issue in its brochure.
“Agrivoltaics involves locating agriculture production, such as crops, livestock or pollinator habitats underneath solar panels or between rows of solar panels,” according to the brochure. “We will be implementing agrivoltaics as a part of our operations at Wolf Hills Solar.”
The developer estimates the project would generate $24.6 million in economic activity during construction, $8.8 million in property taxes over the life of the project in addition to creating 340 jobs with $5.4 million in wages during the construction phase, as well as “a few long-term employment opportunities.”
Solar panels have an estimated life cycle of about 25 to 30 years, according to industry claims found online.
The brochure also addresses decommissioning the site.
“Prior to construction we post a surety bond that remains in place for the project’s life. Regardless of future ownership, this bond remains in place to ensure the property is restored to its original condition and all materials are properly and responsibly recycled or disposed of,” according to the document.
dmcgee@bristolnews.com 
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In December of 2024, community members searched for their property in relation to the proposed solar panels sites that would be in Washington County during the open house event hosted by Catalyst Energy Partners.
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