1,200 acre solar farm in the works on Climax Road in Gretna
GRETNA, Va. (WSET) -- A large-scale solar project could bring more than $2 million in revenue to Pittsylvania County, making a 40 year solar project the largest in the county.
A solar farm is expected to be built on more than 1,000 acres of land on Climax Road in Gretna, half of which is owned by the Owen Farm.
Pittsylvania County Supervisor Ben Farmer says Maplewood Solar and Open Road Renewables believe it's the perfect spot for a 1,200 acre solar farm.
"It's a lot of agricultural and crop land that's being occupied on this acreage," said Farmer.
The solar panels are expected to generate up to 120 megawatts of electricity.
"It seem like something that might help the area," said Blair Lumpkins, a homeowner in the area. "We've gotten letters on what roads it'll be affecting and it won't be super invasive on us by any means. It seems like it'll be a little further into the land."
Farmer said there will be a tax revenue of about $1.3 million that will be generated in a 10-year span.
Three landowners are involved in the deal, but not all of them are happy about the project.
There's also concern it will be visible from the road.
"The family has made the decision that it's best for their business and longevity of being around is to convert that from crops into the solar farm then I fully support their decision," Farmer said.
Since it's a large-scale project, it would have to be approved by the Commonwealth.
This isn't the only solar farm project on the Southside.
Last May was the ribbon cutting for the Kentuck Solar Farm in Danville, a $10 million project and the largest municipal utility solar project in Virginia.
The farm supplies 1.5 percent of Danville's power needs.
Danville Utilities says it will save millions of dollars over the next 25 years.
