I have been against industrial solar being considered near the Endless Caverns Substation from the start. The land that surrounds this area is agriculture. Not only that but the land is actually zoned (at both of the two proposed sites) as A1 agriculture land. This means that it was intended to be preserved for traditional agricultural activities. It was established that way to provide for the continuation of agriculture as well as to protect these areas of their rural character. A1 zoning also means that it was deemed as higher quality farmland than an area zoned A2.

Why would anyone believe it would be a good idea to remove this land out of agricultural use for an industrial purpose like solar? If the intention really is to maintain the health and character of our world by exploring alternative sources of energy, then wouldn't non-agricultural lands be better suited for such material? Rooftops, paved parking lots, and industrial parks with numerous already impermeable surfaces would be obvious better solutions.

DEQ- put restrictions in place on solar to remove the opportunity to use farmland for industrial arrays. Subsequently, reject the Energix solar array requested for this area and all future companies who also may try to bully their way into this site.

My last point I would like to include is how much this will lower the property value of the land in the surrounding area. Folks don't move toward New Market and rural northern Rockingham County to be surrounded by development. We all moved to this land because of the rural character and farmland that surrounds our own farms and land. We either grew up here or decided to continue to live here because we appreciate this agrarian way of life. This solar installation will go against the natural evolution of our community and have detrimental impacts on the surrounding area.
Please help to save it with your rejection of their permit. Please approve the stricter regulations we need.