Many people avoid taking a stand on something, just assuming that someone will do it.  And usually I'm one of those that have faith in the system and believe that someone who is better in making their argument will take care of voicing their opinion.  But in this case, I feel that I need to share my concerns.  I am in full support of the efforts to STOP the  Caden Energix Endless Caverns North and Caden Energix Endless South per the petition that you have received on December 8, 2022.

I moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1979 right out of college with my new husband.  We had visited his family and I came up and worked in Shenandoah National Park for the summer, just to see if this is where I would want to live with my husband and raise a family.  My husband grew up on a small family farm and went to college to get a degree in agriculture. I fell in love with the valley.  The pristine farms, the beautiful blue sky, the gorgeous mountain views.  And so, as soon as we graduated, we moved to the valley and the following year my husband and I purchased a small 50 acre farm.  Over the years we rented three other farms, have over 100 head of black angus cattle, make over 1500 bales of hay, and plant and harvest over 22 acres of corn.

My heart bleeds for all the locals that are fighting developers who don't even reside in the valley, but want to make as much money as possible.  And then taking away the beautiful farm land for their own gain.  It's just atrocious.

I'm not opposed to solar - just oppose local and state officials that don't look at all the options that are available.  With all the industry and chicken farms in the area - why not just put solar panels on top of them.  There are so many options, much better suited for this area than using up farm land.

I can guarantee that no county official or state leader would ever agree to these solar projects if they were adjoining or across from their own homes.  Who would want to live with a view of hundreds of solar panels every single day, let alone worry about all the water runoff and contamination.  Step back and think of your own property, how would you consider a project such as this.

It's disappointing that the DEQ has allowed these "get rich companies" to use their wits to work around the system to get their Notice of Intent and permits approved.  And then many of the same company solar projects in other areas have not followed through with their promises but continue to move forward with stripping the lands and installing solar panels that make it look like a huge industrial site.

I urge DEQ to step back and take another look at Energix plans and past history.  Don't let this project go down as another mistake.  Farming is such an important industry in Virginia, and I am so proud that my husband and I took the bold step fresh out of college to go in debt to own a small piece of land to farm, preserve, and protect and share with our children the importance of caring for the land.  Now it's your turn to care and do what you can to stop this project.

Many thanks for your consideration.

Greta & Randy Miller