MORGANTOWN – As the state Public Service Commission ponders the fast-tracked Brandonville Solar project, letters of protest have begun trickling in – seven as of Tuesday.
The letters cover the same few themes and the company has filed a letter to the PSC addressing the objections. The letter is addressed to one particular resident but goes beyond that resident’s concerns to take in all of the objections.
Here is a sampling of the public comments so far.
“Preston county averages about 150 days of solar days per year. This is not optimal for a solar production facility. This is taking away from farm land and hunting lands for people in the county and surrounding area. Our state has always supported the beautiful scenic views. It is what we are known for. Please don’t allow the utilities companies to rape and pillage our land.”
“And who wants to sit on their porch overlooking a Solar Farm? That’s not why I moved here over 40 years ago.”
“I love my state and moved back precisely to avoid the type of ‘development’ that this project seems to be about. I am an avid hunter as well and this only serves to hamper the movement and habitat of our local deer population.”
“This project … will cause the surrounding area to lose property values which will in turn decrease the tax base within the county. Preston County will have an overall decrease in property tax collection because of this project. The proposed area will also need to be treated regularly will herbicides to keep plants from shading out the sun on the panels. These herbicides will ultimately make their way into the Cheat River watershed. Over 1,000 acres of flat developable land would be tied up for over 30 years for only about 50 megawatts of electricity.”
“Additionally, northern Preston County is a very attractive and fast growing area. The farmlands are slowly turning into suburbs. It’s one of the few areas in West Virginia where there’s good, usable land and is within commuting distance of good jobs. However, that good usable land is finite due to the borders with Pennsylvania and Maryland and the mountainous terrain south of the area. This small slice of West Virginia paradise should be reserved for the people who want to build homes, carve out homesteads, and keep the farmlands as they’ve been for years.”
Other concerns include an old family cemetery on Girl Scout Road, displaced wildlife, the disposition of expire solar panels and traffic on Compressor Station Road.
Brandonville Solar opens its letter saying, “Brandonville Solar 1, LLC is committed to creating a project that generates shared value for the community and looks forward to continuing to work with the WV PSC and local stakeholders to do so. We are committed to responsible development and transparent communication with the communities in which we operate.”
On the recurring sunshine issue, the company says, “While Preston County averages 151 sunny days annually, solar technology has advanced significantly and can operate efficiently in a variety of lighting conditions, including cloudy or shaded environments, thanks to their ability to capture diffused sunlight.”
The site selection process took that into account, the company says.
On the wildlife issue, Brandonville Solar responded expansively, covering other topics. “Safety is our top priority. Like hundreds of other solar projects across America, this project will meet all local, state, and federal permitting standards to ensure safe, reliable operation.”
Solar energy doesn’t spur acid rain or greenhouse gas emissions, it says, and no research links solar farms to adverse health effects.
“We conduct thorough environmental assessments which we then use in designs to avoid, mitigate, or minimize disruption to local wildlife and ecosystems. The project is also located entirely on private property, so it is not anticipated to impact recreational activities on public access lands.”
On land values, Brandonville Solar says numerous studies show that large scale solar arrays have little to no impact. Renewable energy can be a driver for economic development in host communities and generate revenue for local municipal services.
On the potential road problem, “We understand the concerns raised for the limitations to Compressor Station Road.” It will coordinate with local Preston County authorities to manage traffic during construction. Post-construction traffic is typically minimal, limited to planned maintenance visits.
The company says construction activities will be temporary and conducted during permitted hours to reduce the impact of noise on neighbors. “Solar farms produce no nighttime sound, and daytime sound emissions at standard setbacks are typically comparable to the noise level from common household items, such as a refrigerator.”
On the solar panels, the company says solar equipment can last for decades. Sometimes, photovoltaic modules can be reused or refurbished to have a “second life” generating electricity. The other components of solar systems can also be handled responsibly.
“At the end of the project’s useful life, estimated to be 25-30 years, lease agreements include decommissioning requirements that obligate us to bear the cost of solar panel removal and restoration of the project area. Panels are highly recyclable, and as the industry continues to scale and evolve in the upcoming decades, technology, recycling, and repurposing standards are expected to grow significantly as well.”
The letter didn’t address the herbicides, but in an October 2024 report on Mon Power’s two local solar sites, we noted that grass grows up between and under the solar arrays. The grass is maintained with a combination of mowing and grazing sheep.
Brandonville Solar’s 00 megawatt solar project is planned to sit on 1,154 acres between Glade Run and Big Sandy Creek, about one mile northwest of Brandonville.
Brandonville Solar is a subsidiary of Enel North America, part of Enel Group, a sustainable energy company headquartered in Andover, Mass. It has more than 850 employees and maintains a portfolio of around 12 gigawatts of projects in operation across nine U.S. states and one Canadian province. Its renewables division in the U.S. and Canada operates as Enel Green Power North America.
Brandonville Solar estimates the project will cost more than $174 million. It will connect with an existing FirstEnergy transmission line in the area. There will be no transmission towers; and no battery storage system at this time.
The project footprint consists of three solar energy leases totaling 752 acres and a Purchase Option Agreement describing about 402 acres. The PV solar modules and other project components require about 469 acres of land within the overall project boundary of about 1,154 acres.
The project is anticipated to be operational by Dec. 31, 2027, with construction starting on Dec. 2, 2026, the company says. On Oct. 20, we reported that the project could see PSC approval in less than two months.
