Orange County Planning commissioners will consider a solar application Thursday.
Hexagon Energy subsidiary Grassland Solar, LLC has applied for a special use permit to operate a 6 megawatt photovoltaic solar energy generating system with two points of interconnection, each designed to inject 3MW into Dominion’s system. The project’s location on 48 acres of Helen McConnell’s 1,491-acre agricultural zoned farm on Clifton Road in Rapidan allows for direct access into existing distribution infrastructure and close proximity to an existing substation on Berry Hill Road. The panels at full tilt are expected to be 8-10 feet tall and access would be provided from Rt. 20 via Clifton Road. Initially, Grassland Solar had considered a 9 MW project, but due to costs, chose 6 MW. The estimated cost to connect the project to the grid is approximately $1 million. The project represents an overall $10.3 millions capital investment. Like many other proposed solar projects in Virginia, the site may utilize sheep as vegetation management and bees for honey production.Â
According to county planner Joe Ryan, approximately 26.4 acres of the 48 acre piece of the property included in the proposed SUP application will be under panel. He said the project will not include any battery storage and construction is expected to take approximately four to six months. Ryan said the company had held a meeting with 37 adjoining landowners in August and as of August, two property owners had contacted the county in opposition of the project.
Planning and zoning manager Josh Frederick said the Grassland Solar project is different from the county’s first solar project located on Rt. 20 which he said is much larger and transmission level. The Grassland Solar project is distribution level, does not require a lot of overhead infrastructure and does not need a major substation.
Over a 40-year lifespan, the project would generate approximately $640,700 in revenue for Orange County including the reassessment of real property, voluntary payments, a siting agreement between the applicant and county and other expenditures resulting from the project construction. Additional revenue is expected via either a voluntary revenue share payment or taxation of machinery and tools. A 30-page economic and fiscal impact analysis contains a siting agreement that would include a one-time upfront payment of $90,000 with subsequent annual payments ranging from $9,200 in the first year of operation to a peak of $18,000 in years 34 and 35. A revenue sharing agreement would allow for up to $1,400 per MW as provided by Virginia Code with a 10% escalation every five years for a total of $455,800 over 35 years.
District 5 commissioner Frank DiPasquale said he sees the project as a beneficial one.
“It’s an opportunity for those who own large tracts of land, farmland,” he said. “The scale of this project may provide an option for those seeking non-ag financial opportunities to sustain their farm.”
He said the project is different from one the county has had before and encouraged commissioners to look at it with eyes wide open.
The public hearing will be held Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 11282 Government Center Drive, Orange. To view the project, along with the accompanying reports and impact analysis, visit https://orangecountyva.gov/1238/SUP-2026-00534-Grassland-Solar.
