$2.8 M IN REVENUE
QUIET COMMUNITY NEIGHBOR
70 CONSTRUCTION JOBS
ABOUT
About
Mountain Brook Solar is a responsible dual-use agricultural and solar project located on private property in the Wirtz community, Franklin County. This 20 MW project will be situated on approximately 184 acres and is committed to supporting the local economy and creating clean energy for Franklin County residents.
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Currently, Mountain Brook Solar is in the development stage. We are securing the local, state and federal permits required to develop the project safely and responsibly.
For more information, please call (571) 414-1442.
~3,000 HOMES POWERED
SHEEP GRAZING UNDER PANELS
28,000 METRIC TONS OF COâ‚‚ OFFSET
POLLINATOR FRIENDLY PLANTINGS
What is Agrivoltaics?
Mountain Brook is a unique project. It will maximize the productivity of the land by incorporating sheep onto the site. Raising animals or growing crops alongside photovoltaic (PV) solar panels is an increasingly popular practice known as agrivoltaics.
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We will partner with a local sheep farmer and work with them to best accommodate their needs. The farmer will be able to use the Mountain Brook site at no cost to graze their flocks. The project's tall fences, solar panels, and pollinator-friendly meadows will provide excellent predator protection, shelter from the elements, and rich food for the sheep. In turn, the sheep will provide vegetation management. Sheep are able to graze very close to the panels and manage vegetation in hard to reach areas.
Grazing sheep on solar projects bolsters direct on-farm jobs and increases opportunities for meat processing, restaurants, retail outlets, event venues and more indirectly. As the size of flocks increase across Southern Virginia, stores that supply equipment, mineral, feed, veterinary medications and other items will see increased revenue.
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Therefore, Mountain Brook will receive efficient vegetation management whilst supporting local economic endeavors. Further, raising sheep on the property allows for the project to retain the rural and agricultural character of the land, which we recognize as a vital goal of Franklin County.
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To learn more about sheep agrivoltaics, please click the button below!
Economic Benefits
Mountain Brook Solar will provide significant benefits to Franklin County, including ongoing revenue payments and well-paying construction jobs which will provide training and experience for the local workforce.
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Ongoing Revenue: The project will generate approximately $2.8 million in revenue over the next 35 years.
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Jobs: The project will create approximately 75-100 well-paying construction jobs during the construction phase.
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No strain will be placed on existing county-funded services such as sewer, water, roads, or schools.
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Mountain Brook is a proud member of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce and will prioritize hiring contractors in Franklin County to construct, operate, and maintain the project.
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Community Benefits
Mountain Brook Solar is a long-term partner that will be involved in the community throughout the entire lifespan of the project. We are a unique partner in the solar market because we develop, build, own, operate, and eventually decommission the project after its useful life.
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Agricultural Character: Mountain Brook will develop the project in a way that respects the agricultural integrity of the land through sheep grazing on the project site.
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Domestic, Reliable Energy: All energy produced will be delivered to the local Westlake Substation, delivering domestic, affordable, environmentally-friendly energy to the Wirtz community. Mountain Brook has a Buy American Commitment, and is partnering with First Solar, an American panel manufacturer, whose technology has a 20+ year track record of reliability and efficiency. To learn more about First Solar, please click on the link here.
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Biodiversity: The project will follow Virginia's Pollinator-Smart Program for solar projects to establish a pollinator meadow on site. These native plants will support habitat for critical species such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Enviromental Impact
Mountain Brook Solar is a safe and environmentally-sound solar project that will preserve vital natural resources and protect the rural and agricultural nature of Franklin County.
Mountain Brook Solar will be a quiet neighbor with a positive impact on the environment. There will be no pollution, no noise, and no traffic once the initial construction is complete. Mountain Brook will offset approximately 28,000 metric tons of COâ‚‚ which is equivalent to over 5,000 homes' electricity usage for one year.
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To understand how we calculate these environmental impacts, check out the tools below.
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This project allows Franklin County to preserve the land, while at the same time producing clean, affordable energy. After the life of the project, all equipment will be removed and the First Solar panels will be recycled via their recycling program. The site will then be seeded with native grass mixes and ready for other kinds of land use.
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To learn more about First Solar and their recycling program, please click below.
Buffers & Setbacks
Buffers and setbacks designed to minimize the visual impact of the solar farm are an important component of the Mountain Brook Solar project. We will develop these in conformance with the Franklin County land development code. Features include extensive 300-foot setbacks from property boundaries and 150-foot setbacks from public right of ways. There will be large vegetative buffers to protect the viewshed. Buffers will be 30-feet wide with staggered vegetation planted at least 6-feet tall. This vegetated screening will be provided along roads and adjacent properties, where applicable.
To view renderings of the landscape buffers for Mountain Brook at different stages of the project, please click the button below.
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Vegetation
The design of the Mountain Brook Solar Project includes landscaping and buffers which will screen the project from view and further help maintain the existing character of the area. Any trees planted will be evergreen in nature, so viewshed is always protected. Ground cover will be established beneath and around the panels with native species. In addition, native pollinator mixes in compliance with Virginia's Pollinator Smart program will be planted in parts of the project to increase biodiversity.
Habitat Protection
The project is designed to protect existing wetlands, streams, and other natural resources. Mountain Brook does extensive research and surveying of the area. Therefore, the project will be carefully developed to preserve these wetlands and other natural resources to protect this valuable habitat for decades.
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Contact
Wildlife
In order to comply with state requirements, Mountain Brook Solar will obtain an environmental permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). As part of the permit process, the impact on threatened and endangered species is evaluated and mitigation plans, if needed, are developed. Fencing that would affect wildlife will only be placed in areas where there are solar panels.
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FAQ's
Is solar safe?
Unequivocally yes. Solar panels are designed and tested to withstand a range of extreme environmental conditions. There is no risk for soil or groundwater contamination because the technology we use is expertly contained within the panel and not water soluble.
Will the solar project cause glare?
No, there will not be a visible glare. Solar panels are designed to absorb light, not reflect it. The panels we use have anti-reflective coating.
Where will the project be located?
It will be located on 3 parcels of private property near the corner of Burnt Chimney Road and Brooks Mill Road in Wirtz, Virginia.
How will the project affect property values?
Research across Virginia and nearby states shows that utility-scale solar projects do not have any negative impact on neighboring residential property values. Based on numerous market studies, interviews with land brokers, research carried out by universities and other independent third parties, there is lack of evidence that solar projects decrease real property values of nearby properties.
Contact Us
1201 Wilson Blvd, Ste 2200
Arlington, VA 22209
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Tel: (571) 414-1442
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