Phase two of what could end up as one of the largest solar facilities in the U.S. got a green light from the Lee County Board on Thursday.

Lee County Board members voted 11-3-3 to issue a special-use permit to Hexagon Energy LLC, a Virginia-based company doing business in Illinois as Steward Creek Solar LLC, for phase two of a 1,200-megawatt commercial solar energy facility in Alto and Willow Creek townships.

“Phase two will produce enough clean energy to power approximately 116,300 homes and generate approximately $3.9 million in annual local tax revenue, totaling approximately $87 million over the 35-year project term,” according to Hexagon Energy’s special-use permit application.

Hexagon Energy is in talks with investment bankers to sell a portfolio of battery storage projects in ERCOT, Texas, totaling 2GW. The 17 projects aim to achieve commercial operation by Q3 2025, featuring two-hour batteries. There is a potential delay in the commercial operation date to secure domestic content for a 10% uplift in the investment tax credit.

Hexagon Energy was awarded a Conditional Use Permit for a 0.99 megawatt community solar project in Winthrop, Maine. The entire project site will be just under 7 acres on an undeveloped site that recently underwent timbering.

The Community Climate Collaborative (C3) announced the expansion of its Green Business Alliance today with the help of special guest U.S. Representative Jennifer McClellan. 26 Virginia-based businesses and non-profits have made a collective commitment to reduce emissions and advance our economy for a clean energy future. In 2021, the 16 founding members of the Green Business Alliance (GBA) committed to a collective emissions reduction target of 45% by 2025. This new cohort of 10 members has committed to a 35% emissions reduction by 2027. Each member also has an individual pledge to take action, ranging from a minimum of 30% and a maximum of 90%.

Aplanned solar farm in Albemarle County that could conservatively power more than half of the county’s households is well on its way to a ground-breaking within the next year.

County supervisors and the project’s developer say the 650-acre, 35-megawatt Woodridge Solar project in southeastern Albemarle can, and should, be a model for other communities.

Floated concerns notwithstanding, Supervisors voted unanimously to approve both special use permit requests, one to allow for some additional grading in construction, the other to construction of a power station to allow the project to be connected to the power lines.

On Wednesday night, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors heard about the pros and cons of the project.

It received overwhelming support from the public and the board members themselves.

It was unanimously approved.

Hexagon aces first scorecard test

Arkansas native and Director of Development, Scott Remer, along with Project Developer, Al Rodgers, presented plans for Panther Forest Solar to newly elected County Judge Tom Mosley.

The Sharkey County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a memorandum of understanding supporting the development of Ocelot Solar. Ocelot Solar is a 100MW utility scale solar project near Rolling Fork, Mississippi.

Scott Remer, Director of Development at Hexagon Energy presented the benefits this project will bring to our home county of Albemarle.

Livable Cville supports Woodridge Solar, which is a utility-scale solar project proposed in Albemarle County.

“Based on our analysis, C3 strongly supports this proposed project. We are excited to recommend that Albemarle County grant the solar developer Hexagon Energy a special-use permit to add solar to the Woodridge site.”

he Fort Kent Planning Board unanimously voted to approve a Site Design Review application for Revelator Solar during the November 2 meeting.

Hexagon Energy developed Piney Creek Solar, an 80-megawatt solar facility located along Rodgers Chapel Road in Halifax County, Virginia.