Local Land Use Halt Stymies Dominion Energy's 98 MW Finneywood Solar Project

The Mecklenburg County Planning Commission delivered a decisive setback to Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO), d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia, denying a special exception permit for the proposed 98-megawatt (MW) Finneywood Solar Facility. The denial, adopted September 18, 2025, followed a public hearing and marks the latest regulatory hurdle for the utility-scale renewable energy development.

The Planning Commission voted 9-1 to deny the application. The proposed facility, which Dominion Energy had applied to construct on 497 disturbed acres out of a total 997 acres, was rejected primarily due to environmental and land use conflicts in the rural Virginia county.

High Stakes for Local Revenue and Green Goals

The denial occurred despite significant proposed economic incentives that VEPCO had touted. The project application detailed substantial financial contributions, including an estimated $7.5 million in enhanced County tax revenue over the lifespan of the project, a marked increase compared to the approximately $130,000 in cumulative revenue from the property’s current agricultural use.

Furthermore, Dominion had planned to provide $2.7 million in one-time capital payments to the County for local projects, alongside an additional $800,000 earmarked for the Town of Chase City to purchase land for economic development.

On the labor front, an economic impact report submitted by the applicant projected 197 direct, indirect, and induced jobs during the construction phase, associated with $8 million in labor income and $25.8 million in output. Once operational, the facility was expected to support 5 direct, indirect, and induced jobs annually.

A Senior Business Development Manager with Dominion Energy, Mrs. Laura Wilson, spoke on behalf of the application, emphasizing that the project would be a benefit to Mecklenburg County. Mrs. Sandra Towne, representing the South-Central Business Alliance, supported the application, noting the potential for jobs and training for the younger generation.

Environmental and Conservation Values Trigger Denial

The Planning Commission resolution outlined six specific reasons for the denial, each of which were set forth in the Staff Report, underscoring significant ecological and scenic preservation concerns.

Key factors cited in the denial included:

1. Loss of Farmland: The proposal involves utilizing 997 acres categorized as prime farmland of statewide importance to develop the 497-acre solar facility.
2. Conservation Conflicts: The property registers significant conservation values, featuring "moderate," "high," "very high," and "outstanding" forest conservation values according to the Virginia Conservation Vision Forest Conservation Values Model. Portions of the land are also on the Virginia Natural Land Network.
3. Waterway Proximity: The facility's development is located within the proximity of Finneywood Creek and the South Meherrin River. The resolution noted that these waterways could be affected by contamination leaving the site.
4. State Scenic River Designation: Crucially, the Meherrin River is designated as a State Scenic River by the Virginia General Assembly. The Commission concluded that an industrial development on the site would be "contrary" to the noted character of the river corridor, which currently maintains a sense of isolation and remoteness due to ample forested buffers and minimal industrial development.

Public comment largely mirrored these concerns. Mr. Brandon Estes spoke against the proposal, urging the Commission to publish an article regarding violations at other Dominion Solar sites. Mrs. Judy Brothers, President of the Meherrin River group and a Chase City resident, presented a petition signed by 100 names against the application. The Zoning Office received seven emails against the application, compared to one email and two phone calls in favor.

The application for the special exception permit was submitted by VEPCO on August 21, 2025. While the Planning Commission previously affirmed in 2022 that the project was in substantial accord with the Mecklenburg County Comprehensive Plan, the subsequent September 18, 2025 vote to deny indicates that specific local environmental protections and land use priorities ultimately outweighed the facility’s financial and energy production benefits.