Solar panels reflect off the sun’s rays along Turkey Knob Road west of Mount Jackson.
Solar panels reflect off the sun’s rays along Turkey Knob Road west of Mount Jackson.
Mount Jackson delayed a decision Tuesday on extending the unfinished Turkey Knob solar project through 2031 after the agreement governing $1.375 million in payments from Energix was not made public in time for residents to review it.
The Town Council instead approved another short-term extension through Sept. 8 and scheduled a Sept. 8 public hearing on the five-year extension and amended siting agreement.
“Basically, with the siting agreement negotiation with the Energix folks, it was not made public prior to the meeting with enough time for people to be able to review,” Town Manager Olivia Hilton said.
The agreement calls for Energix to pay $275,000 upon approval of the extension, $350,000 upon site-plan approval, $425,000 when construction begins and $325,000 when the project reaches commercial operation.
The first $275,000 would be paid even if the remaining project is never built.
About 450 acres and 75 megawatts remain unbuilt. An existing 15-megawatt portion began generating electricity in 2021.
Energix has said the expansion was delayed after its software mistook a Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative line for Dominion Energy transmission infrastructure. The company must restart the PJM Interconnection process and has projected commercial operation in 2031 or 2032.
A company representative told council that Energix had accepted the town’s counteroffer and delivered an executable agreement the previous week.
Alvin Henry, who owns property in Mount Jackson but lives in Rappahannock County, argued the town should seek more money.
“I think you all leave a lot of money here on the table with this package,” Henry said.
Henry said Hilton had given him a range of $23,000 to $47,000 per megawatt. The $1.375 million agreement works out to about $18,300 per megawatt across the 75-megawatt expansion. He argued Energix could afford a larger payment upfront.
Ross Poplar, a Quicksburg resident, urged council to stop development at its existing footprint.
“Yes, the latest sum of $1,375,000 is a sizable sum of money, but the beauty of our natural landscape and your legacy as community leaders has no price and should not be negotiable,” Poplar said.
Steve Stein asked council to provide more information about its oversight of landscaping and buffering.
“Tell us what’s going on,” Stein said. “Tell us how you arrive at your decisions. We’re not getting the information.”
Council approved the temporary extension 5-1. Vice Mayor Rod Shepherd voted no.
Shepherd said afterward that his vote reflected opposition to the project among his constituents, not an objection to the short-term extension itself.
“A lot of my constituents are opposed to that solar field,” Shepherd said.
Gospel Street
Council also delayed a proposed parking ban on Gospel Street after a tenant challenged a premise the town had presented to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
In a July 1 letter seeking the restriction between Depot and Wunder streets, Hilton wrote that a field assessment found the residential properties had functional private driveways and that sufficient off-street parking existed for every household.
Sam Gesford said the property he rents from Twin Trees LLC at Gospel St. has no driveway or parking lot. He and his partner park two vehicles on the street.
“Parking away from the house in the lot by the town office, for example, would be a nuisance,” Gesford said.
Council member Todd Holtzman, who identified himself as a property owner on Gospel Street, said he had supported the restriction because parked cars can leave little room for emergency vehicles but had not considered the effect on residents without off-street parking.
He said the concern could change his vote.
Council delayed action until September while staff talks with residents and examines parking options.
Community center
Council also abandoned its proposed purchase of approximately four acres behind the Shenandoah County Community Center.
Council voted to rescind the purchase agreements after a council member said discussions with the property owners and county staff showed the proposed arrangement would leave two owners of one parcel. Holtzman abstained.
The property was appraised at approximately $370,000 and would have been sold to the town for $50,000. The $320,000 difference could have counted toward the town’s share of a $450,000 federal matching grant for infrastructure, parking and lighting.
Holtzman, who helped lead the restoration of the former Triplett school into the community center, argued in July that abandoning the acquisition would weaken the possibility of eventually building an aquatic facility there.
Hilton said dropping the project would not prevent the town and community center from working together later.
“I don’t feel that the aquatic center has to be off the table if that’s the space for it down the road,” Hilton said.
Other news
Council unanimously scheduled a September public hearing on a proposed tree care ordinance as the town works toward a Tree City USA designation.
The draft would create a Tree Advisory Board, establish standards for public trees and allow the town to order treatment or removal of nuisance trees on private property. Violations could carry fines of up to $500.
Council also declared Aug. 14 Clayton Will Day in recognition of his 100th birthday and service in the U.S. Army during World War II. Will served with the 335th Infantry Regiment of the 84th Infantry Division in Europe.
“Mr. Will, thank you for all your service, for being an example of what (a) veteran is,” Mayor Donnie Pifer said. “We really appreciate you.”
— Contact Ryan Fitzmaurice at rfitzmaurice@nvdaily.com
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