WILLIAMSBURG — Williamsburg City Council heard a proposal from Cynergy Power for a solar farm near Waller Mill Reservoir — city-owned land in York County — at its Nov. 10 work session.
According to the agenda, the city was approached in July by Energy Innovation Partners regarding the possibility of utilizing municipal surplus property for solar projects enabled through the Big Beautiful Bill with a 30% tax credit. Dominion Energy recently released an RFP seeking solar energy production proposals. Since July, solar company Cynergy has been evaluating the possibility of solar projects in Williamsburg, and the best opportunity for solar production on municipal land not currently considered for commercial or residential opportunities is the city’s holdings surrounding Waller Mill Reservoir.
Cynergy proposes to construct a solar power generation and storage facility on 162.19 acres of property northeast and southeast of the reservoir, requiring approximately 122 acres of clearing to enable 19.8 megawatts of solar production and eight megawatts of storage. The city owns approximately 2,700 acres of land surrounding the reservoir, and Cynergy proposes the city could receive as much as $5,832,040 over a 15-year period, with approximately $1 million paid after construction, in return for a lease of the property. The proposal includes revenue sharing with the city.
While the property city-owned, it is located in York County and would be subject to the county’s zoning regulations and approval processes, which would be pursued by Cynergy or its agent.
Members of the public expressed concern over the environmental impact the project might cause. “I think [the proposal] is one of the most short-sighted things you could do in regard to the health and the expense of the water customers of the Williamsburg water works,” said one citizen during public comment.
Cynergy said during its presentation it tried to ensure that the solar fields would be beyond the step-back in place in York County.
For more information, visit the city’s website.
