Board approves 3 MW Blunt's Bridge solar project with conditions and community protections

The Hanover County Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use permit for the Blunt's Bridge Solar project, a proposed 3‑megawatt facility sited on about 26 acres of a larger 100‑acre parcel near Ashland.

Planning staff described the CUP area, noted required sketch‑plan elements and recommended 14 conditions tied to the county's ordinance and solar policy, including a 150‑foot planted perimeter buffer, a one‑time payment to the county of $26,070 per megawatt prior to site‑plan approval, a decommissioning plan, stormwater and erosion control oversight, weekly third‑party inspections during construction, anti‑reflective panel coatings, limits on lighting height and house‑side shielding, and coordination with fire and EMS. Esther Rekleman, development manager with Hexagon Energy, and landowner Vincent Harris described measures to protect view‑sheds and keep the farm in agricultural use while participating in the state's shared‑solar program; Hexagon agreed to post bonds for landscaping and decommissioning and to follow planting and management plans. Supporters at the hearing said the project balanced agriculture and renewable energy, while some board members urged caution about specifics of planting plans and long‑term screening. The board approved the CUP by voice vote.

The approval is conditioned on compliance with the county's solar policy and ordinance; the CUP will expire in five years if construction does not begin. Hexagon and the landowners agreed to the staff‑recommended conditions and committed to continued coordination with the county on construction and operations.