100 Learn more about the Washington solar farm proposal

BRISTOL, Va. — More light was shed on a proposed solar project Thursday evening.

More than 100 residents of Washington County, Virginia, gathered in the John S. Battle High School gymnasium to learn more about the plan proposed by Texas-based Catalyst Energy Partners.

Catalyst, founded in 2020, wants to build a solar farm in Washington County on as much as 1,800 acres of leased agricultural and industrial land, mostly in the Wyndale area.

“It’s a lease,” said Freddy Sullivan, a Wyndale-area resident who agreed to lease the land to Catalyst for the project.

Sullivan, 47, owns 103 acres of industrial land and says he has contracted with Catalyst for a solar project.

“Either we are a part of it or the opportunity will leave us and disappear,” Sullivan said. “This route is more financially beneficial, but it is also a way to bring more significant economic benefits to our region and back to our county.”

Developers estimate that this project will generate tax revenues of $20 million over the entire implementation period, or approximately $500,000 annually.

Another landowner, Darrell Gilbert, 64, has agreed to lease solar panels on 32 acres of his farmland if the project is approved.

“I can’t find a negative in this,” Gilbert said. “I would like to pass this on. It’s a good source of revenue. It trumps any type of farming I have ever done.”

Developers hope to install about half a million solar panels at facilities around the Bristol-Washington County Industrial Park. The plan is to sell solar power generated by the panels to the electrical grid at the Wolf Hills plant, and developers estimate it will generate 250 megawatts of power.

Developers say about 300 construction workers will be needed to build and install the solar panels.

A study by developers predicts the average distance from neighboring homes to the nearest solar panel will be 730 feet.

Five members of the Washington County Board of Supervisors attended an open house Thursday hosted by Catalyst Energy.

“I can tell you that of the calls I made, only one involved a person who was not the owner of the vehicle,” Supervisor Dwayne Ball said Thursday. “I probably made 20 calls in total.”

The amended solar panel ordinance will go to the Board of Supervisors for potential approval on June 11.

In turn, Catalyst must obtain a special, unique permit to build a photovoltaic farm in agricultural areas.

“I can tell you, our board, we have by no means made a decision,” Ball said. “We try to learn everything we can.”

Christina Rehfuss, chairwoman of the Washington County Planning Commission, said Thursday that she is still trying to learn more about the potential project and solar energy.

“Progress is good if it is controlled and in the right direction,” Rehfuss said. “I really don’t have an opinion at this point because I’m trying to keep an open mind. There are many advantages and many disadvantages. There’s still a lot I don’t know.”

Dulcie Mumpower, another member of the planning commission, expressed concern about “water runoff, views, loss of farmland… I’m very sad that we have dedicated our farmland to solar panels.”

Gene Copenhaver, 63, a cattle rancher from Meadowview, said Thursday that he opposed the plan because he wants the area to be “as rural and as beautiful as possible…I am completely against it. I think once we start rolling out this service across the county, there will be many other opportunities available throughout the county.”