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Nearly two years ago, Buckingham supervisors approved a conditional use permit for Rosney Creek Solar. The 5 megawatt solar facility was set to go up at 106 Whetsone Lane in Dillwyn, covering roughly 55 acres of a 429-acre parcel of land. But since that vote, nothing much has happened in terms of moving forward. As a result, officials with Apex Clean Energy came to the supervisors’ meeting on Monday, Dec. 9, asking for an extension. 

You see, as part of the approval, supervisors set some conditions back on Jan. 9, 2023. One of the requirements involved that Apex submit a building permit application and be ready to move forward within two years of getting approval. Apex officials said there’s no way they’ll be ready to do that by Jan. 9, 2025, so they came asking for a two year extension, pushing the deadline back to Jan. 9, 2027. 

“Unfortunately, I’m back because we’re in much the same position connection wise as we were two years ago,” said Mary Margaret Hertz with Apex Clean Energy. “Pretty much, we are still the second project in the ‘que, awaiting study. I think this two year extension would grant us more than enough time to get that approval and start the building permit application.” 

Hertz is referring to a study by Dominion Energy. Dominion has been asked to allow Rosney Creek Solar to connect to their distribution infrastructure. But before that happens, Dominion typically does a study, to see the benefits of allowing access, etc. However, that study has not been started yet. In fact, it’s been put on hold while Dominion officials deal with the needs of other projects. That extended waiting period has prevented Apex from getting Dominion’s approval, which is needed before any more work on the project can done. 

Rosney Creek Solar still on hold 

For example, stormwater engineering and design at Rosney Creek Solar have yet to take place. That’s important because the stormwater process can take up to six months and would need to be finished before any building permit request could be filed. Given the current uncertainty as to when that Dominion study will be started, let alone finished, Apex officials say they need to extend the deadline. Supervisors agreed. 

“I see no problem,” Supervisor Cameron Gilliam said. “I was at both meet and greets at the library (and) I saw no one from my district complain about the solar farm, not one piece of litigation or person was against it.” 

Supervisors voted unanimously, 7-0, to grant the extension.