How much will CEP Solar pay? Prince Edward sets siting deal

Last month, the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors voted to approve, with Harrison Jones and David Emert opposed, both proposals by CEP Solar. The group returned this month to fill in the blanks and come to terms on a siting agreement. That is, supervisors agreed to a set fee structure, in order for the solar company to build.

First off, let’s explain more about the solar projects. The first proposal is for an 8 megawatt site at the end of Taylor Drive, roughly four tenths of a mile from its intersection with Miller Lake Road. The company has purchased 170.8 acres for this project. The second is for a 5 megawatt site, located on the south side of Piney Grove Road, across from its intersection with Campbell Lane. The company owns 81.2 acres for this project.

Nobody showed up during the Tuesday, July 9 meeting to speak in opposition to the siting agreement. All of the surrounding property owners had been notified by the county that this was set to take place. Under terms of the siting agreement, Prince Edward County gets a one-time payment of $120,000 from CEP Solar for the Taylor Drive site. The county will also receive a one-time payment of $75,000 for the Piney Grove Road project. That’s a total of $195,000 in one-time payments.

The second part of the agreement involves annual payments. CEP Solar agrees to pay $1,400 per megawatt for each site. That’s $11,200 for the 8 megawatt site and $7,000 for the 5 megawatt site, combined for a total of $18,200 each year coming in. That deal remains in effect until it’s amended, revoked or suspended by a vote of the Board of Supervisors.

More revenue coming from CEP Solar

According to county staff, both of the sites combined will generate an estimated $200,000 in stormwater and building permits. The county won’t collect any machinery or tools tax, as part of the deal, but taking everything into account, the total revenue generated from CEP Solar will total $1.14 million over 40 years. There is no restrictions being placed on any of these funds in the siting agreement. The supervisors and staff can use them as they see fit.

Before the final vote took place, Jones wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t voting in support of the project. That took place, as we referenced above, last month, with Jones and Emert in opposition.

“This is not deciding to approve,” Jones explained to the crowd. “What we vote on tonight is how the county gets paid from the project that’s already happening.”

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