I am a beekeeper and honey is one commodity that our farm sells.  Living on a property across from the proposed Energix Endless Caverns north and south locations, I am concerned about the negative impact a large-scale industrial solar installation will have on the honeybees. 

As you may know, Energix enticed the Board of Supervisors with the idea that they will plant “polinator-friendly plants” under the solar panels. This sounds good on paper, but in actuality, it does not provide the benefit that it may lead someone to believe. Pollinator-friendly plants need full sun in order to grow.  Flowers don’t grow in the shade and not enough nectar supply is made without full sunlight.  Therefore, the idea that the completed project will benefit the habitat in this way is actually contrary to the current benefit it is providing. Since this location is a cattle field, the farmer does not cultivate this grazing land and a large amount of field thistle currently grows. Thistle honey is actually a highly desirable type of honey and has many health benefits it provides to those who prefer it. With the mass removal of it from this area, there will inevitably be a decline in honey production and pollination from this area.

The other topic I wanted to raise my concern over is that of the topsoil. In the more recent meeting with Energix, we asked if the company had a soil conservation plan; to which they stated no.  They admitted that they would be stripping the topsoil from the land, trying to reduce down the higher peaks of the property to the lower-lying areas, and have the intent to replace the topsoil before installation of the panels. Again, this will be taking prime A1 agricultural land and stripping all of the top layers that promote good plant growth.  Our area has been known for having an occasional deluge in which we receive a significant amount of rain in a relatively short period of time. I am concerned with the stripping of this topsoil, that a heavy rain would cause all of that to be washed away before it is able to be re-established. It was also reported that in Shenandoah County (our neighboring Energix location), the company stripped the topsoil and sold it (it was not fully re-applied).

Finally, A1 agriculture land should NEVER be used for industrial solar. This is an irresponsible use of another commodity in very limited supply, especially during a global food crisis.