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In less than an hour, the board of supervisors unanimously approved a siting agreement and conditional use permit (CUP) for Tall Pines Solar on Tuesday, Aug. 2, making way for another solar facility to call Charlotte County its home.

The discussion came following a public hearing.

According to the siting agreement, the county is set to net more than $23 million over the project’s life, with $60,000 coming to the county this year and the most significant payout coming in 2026 with $5.4 million.

In comparison, the Randolph Solar project approved last month is set to generate more than $300 million over the project’s life.

A BIT OF BACKGROUND

The developer of Tall Pines, NOVI Energy, submitted its application last year to the county to develop the 220-megawatt solar project located in the area of Welsch Tract Road and Bethlehem Road near Charlotte Court House.

Based on the developer’s CUP application, the project will be located on just more than 2,000 acres of land owned by four different landowners.

According to county documents, the project infrastructure will consist primarily of about 530,000 solar modules.

The proposal indicates that the project will have eight gated entrances to public roads, with the main entrance located on Welsh Tract Road.

At the end of the Aug. 2 meeting, Board Chairman Gary Walker asked that the board consider adopting a resolution that states the county’s intentions and use of funds that will be received from all solar projects.

According to Walker, the resolution would read that funds from solar projects be used to reduce real estate taxes, fund schools, fire, and EMS, and enhance economic development within the county.

The board is expected to discuss the resolution during a meeting this week.