Solar Farm Projects – Transparency for New Kent

This page organizes the public record for utility-scale and commercial solar proposals reviewed in New Kent County. The record includes an approved 2016 project, County-wide solar-facility performance standards adopted in 2022, later applications that were denied or withdrawn, and a 2024 application that was denied.

Start with the Record

Overview

In 2016, the Board approved a 20-megawatt solar facility near Barhamsville with 18 conditions, including decommissioning requirements. In 2022, the County adopted zoning definitions and performance standards for solar energy facilities while retaining conditional-use-permit review in agricultural and industrial districts. County records also document solar applications denied in June 2022, a separate application withdrawn in November 2022, and another Polish Town Solar application denied in February 2024.

Timeline

June 13, 2016: The Board approved CUP-02-16 for a 20-megawatt facility proposed on approximately 250 acres of a 484-acre property near Barhamsville. The 5-0 approval included 18 conditions. Read the approved minutes and Resolution R-14-16.
January 15, 2019: Board minutes record public comments about visibility, screening, and landscaping at the constructed facility. These are recorded public comments, not independent findings by this website. Read the approved minutes.
2021: The Board directed development of solar-facility performance standards. Read Resolution R-23-21.
April 18–May 9, 2022: The Planning Commission recommended, and the Board adopted, zoning definitions and performance standards addressing notice, development standards, setbacks, emergency services, and decommissioning. Ordinance O-06-22 was adopted 5-0. Read the Planning Commission minutes, the ordinance, and the Board minutes.
June 13, 2022: The Board denied CUP-01-22 for Borrego Solar / Polish Town Solar 1 by a 4-1 vote and denied CUP-04-22 for Chaberton Solar Vinson / Project Vinson by a 5-0 vote. Read the approved minutes or watch the meeting.
November 16, 2022: Board minutes state that the property owner withdrew CUP-05-22 and the associated siting agreement for Caden Energix New Kent / New Kent Solar. Read the approved minutes.
February 12, 2024: The Board denied CUP-02-23 for Polish Town Solar 1 / New Leaf Energy, a proposed 2-megawatt facility on approximately 23 acres, by a 5-0 vote. Read the approved minutes or watch the meeting.

Official Documents

Meeting Minutes

Video / Audio

FOIA Requests and Responses

No FOIA records have been added to this page yet.

News Coverage

No news-coverage links have been verified and added to this page yet.

Questions Raised by the Record

The following are research questions, not factual conclusions.

What is the current operating and ownership status of the solar facility approved in 2016?
How have the 2016 screening, buffering, and decommissioning conditions been monitored?
How did the 2022 performance standards affect later project reviews?
Can the complete application files, staff reports, conditions, and withdrawal records for each proposal be added to this library?

Corrections / Updates

Last record review: August 20, 2026. Please use the link below to submit a missing record or correction.

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Living Record Notice:

This website is a living public-record library. Pages may be updated, corrected, or expanded as additional records are received, reviewed, or verified. Please check back regularly for updates.