Highest and best use is not solar farm.
Closely residential property values is expected to reduce by 14-28% per a case study.
Solar farms blocks the potential of developments in the future.
Solar farms reduce the potential development in the future.
Environmental issues. etc

At the same time we are debating solar projects here in Augusta County, Dominion Energy is trying to locate a gas plant Chesterfield County due to increasing demand for electricity. We are fortunate in Augusta County not to have any power plants, yet we use plenty of electricity, and will surely only demand more in the future. It is selfish and unreasonable to expect other residents of the commonwealth to deal with the side effects of electric generation while we have none. Seeing, but not hearing or smelling, solar panels seems a much better option than having a petroleum, coal, natural gas, or nuclear power plant in the neighborhood.

Solar and agriculture don’t have to be mutually exclusive. As an example, in Mechanicsville sheep are grazing under a utility-scale solar project. There are many research projects ongoing on “agrisolar” or “agrivoltaics”. When designed and managed with best practices, agrisolar can:
* Increase rural energy independence,
* Increase soil organic matter and carbon accrual,
* Improve ecosystem health,
* Support native species and local pollinators like bees, and butterflies,
and very importantly, improve farm profitability and keep farm lands in farmer’s hands. Agricultural land sold and tuned into houses or buildings like the Target distribution center is truly lost forever.

I think the Supervisors should allow this and similar projects. I also urge the County to promote solar in new construction, like at the new courthouse parking lot.

I strongly urge the counsel to oppose this request. I own almost 50 acres on Shalom road, which we purchased at current day market value, not passed down to us from prior generations. We bought this land with the comprehensive plan in mind, as planned residential with no industrial zoning as part of that plan. We first received a mailer about this proposal in 2019 after purchasing our land and have been discouraged this project has been allowed to leave the community wondering if the project will be or not for almost 5 years now. Having driven by the solar project on old white bridge, it is easy to point to the negatives, including not just the panels and fencing but also the additional need for tall poles and wires.
Being told that land adjacent to our land bought could be turned into an industrial solar farm, drastically changing the market value and vast natural beauty of our land, is discouraging to say the least. There has been discussion previously of property rights but that goes both ways, my property rights when buying land under the comprehensive plan with an expectation of its value to continue to rise rather than plummet due to a large scale solar project. As a tax paying citizen of this county, I hold that this council and rules in place, will protect my property by now allowing other land owners to do as they please, much like an HOA for a community.
I recommend these proposals be opposed to sustain this beautiful land and its value for following generations.

Please read the:

"Appeal of May 14, 2024 Planning Commission Substantial Accord Determination"
(Augusta Solar Project) .

The Board is considering this appeal, which points out that the Board was not aware of Code of Virginia statutes that outline the process. Also, the Board has misrepresented the facts. Facts are there will be 470 fenced acres, with 114 acres of solar panels, with a total of 1,138 acres of open space. This is just 0.16% of Augusta County's approx. 300,000 agricultural acres. (It seems that the behometh Amazon warehouse in Fishersville covers almost that much acreage.
And what a viewshed impact that place has!)
Carbon emissions will be reduced by 159,454 metric tons. And Augusta Solar will pay 6 million dollars up front, with continuing payments.
We need to support solar initiatives for the future of our kids and grandkids. Hottest day on Earth recorded this past Sunday. Renewable energy will grow. Let's manage it through responsible initiatives such as this.
Please consider the facts and vote to approve this project.

The power generated by this system will not benefit our local area. We should not be burdened by the issues such as runoff let alone the eye sore these system create. I am also concerned about the negative effects to property value a massive solar farm causes. I believe agriculture land should not be used for these systems and there are better places such as parking lots or rooftops that should be utilized for solar farms.

As a farmer, I aim to carefully use the land while preserving it so that food can be produced for future generations. Covering the land in solar panels disrupts this careful cycle of agriculture. Farmland is being targeted directly in this push for renewable energy. Rash decisions driven by urban energy demands and federal funding made without a plan to protect our farmlands will change the nature of our community.
The scale of these utility solar projects is so large, the land becomes an industrial use and should not be permitted on agricultural land.
The land will be degraded and spoiled for future farming. Heavy earthwork will remove nutrient-dense topsoil, compact the soil and leave the ground unable to even germinate seeds. Bare ground leads to soil erosion and run-off. Thousands of piers driven deeply into the ground or reinforced with concrete will make the ground unworkable in the future. Weeds and trees will grow without management. The use of taller piers to accommodate sheep grazing is unlikely, more expensive, less popular, and an unproven solution. Mowing will be inefficient, so the ground will likely be managed by weed barrier, gravel, and chemical sprays.
As the panels deteriorate, they will have to be replaced or removed. If the piers can even be removed, more heavy equipment is needed to pull them out of the ground, leading to further disruption and compaction of the soil.