A solar power project proposed at Bent Mountain.Blacksburg ESS expands

New Leaf Energy Co., Ltd. It proposed building an energy facility at 9150 Reed Road and starting generating electricity in 2027. This site was once an apple orchard, but is now mostly cleared for pasture and is owned by Glenn Reid.

The facility is described as small-scale and would generate 3 or 4 megawatts of energy, according to the proposal.

Mr. Reed said Wednesday that his interest is in lease payments for the use of his land. “Clean energy too,” Reid said.

New Leaf, acting under Reed's permission, applied for a special use permit on March 8. Roanoke County has scheduled a June 4 Planning Commission review of the project. The commission typically makes recommendations for or against the proposal and submits them to the county Board of Supervisors. . The board will have the final say and is scheduled to deliberate on June 25th.

County officials posted a 422-page information package on its planning website depicting a conceptual plan for the site, about 400 feet west of Bent Mountain Road. The proposals say the panels may be visible from nearby homes and roads, but are planned to be “enhanced” to the landscape to “reduce the visual impact on viewsheds.”

According to the proposal, the project will consist of 12,400 panels.

“This project will keep the land rural and continue to generate income without constructing permanent buildings, utilities or public roads,” said a representative for Lowell, Mass.-based New Leaf. writing.

New Leaf said there may be an endangered or endangered species, which may require action to be designated by the government. US Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline was built in the same general area of ​​Bent Mountain over the objections of some landowners.

ESS Technologies The Blacksburg company announced Wednesday that it plans to expand with a move to Christiansburg.

Founded 31 years ago in Blacksburg, ESS provides design and machinery for product packaging lines. The company plans to spend $1.6 million and hire 27 people in connection with the move. It was not immediately clear how many people were already working at ESS.

The Pembroke and Blacksburg operations will be combined into the Scattergood Drive rental site, said Michael Odom, CEO of Pacteon Group, which owns ESS.