In an unexpected twist, the town’s Zoning Board voted unanimously Thursday night to reject a controversial proposal by Green Development of Cranston to locate a 158-acre solar farm in a heavily wooded part of the northern end of town. A stunned audience of nearly 150 people, most of whom had endured more than 10 hours of testimony over three nights dating to September, listened as the board’s vice chairman, Anthony Pilozzi, made a motion to deny – 21 months after he had made a motion to approve a similar proposal by Green...After Pilozzi spent seven minutes outlining his reasons to reject the special-use permit, board chairman Thomas Lopardo quickly called for a second, then a vote, without asking for any further discussion from the board. The audience, which had gathered hastily at the Johnston Senior Center after word spread throughout town during the day that there might be a vote, broke into loud and extended applause. Many congratulated Matthew Landry, the attorney opponents had hired to rebut the case presented by Green’s experts on both applications.

The largest utility-scale solar farm project proposed to date in Amherst County on Virginia 151 just next to the Nelson County border received the county board of supervisors’ unanimous denial Tuesday. The board voted to affirm the Amherst County Planning Commission’s previous decision that the Piney River Solar Project, a proposed 50-megawatt facility on about 180 acres of a much larger tract is not substantially in accord with with the county’s comprehensive plan for growth and development. After a public hearing that drew nearly 20 speakers, about half in support and the other half opposed, the board voted unanimously to deny a special exception permit for the solar farm. Energix Renewables, an Alexandria-based company that has 14 operational solar projects in Virginia and one in Pennsylvania, proposed the project on a property of more than 300 acres in the Piney River area of Amherst County.

The Grundy County Board approved two solar farms, north of the Grundy County Animal Control building and another on DuPont Road, and denied the petition requests of two solar farms north of Morris near Route 47 during its meeting Tuesday night.

POCATELLO — The Bannock County commissioners voted against allowing large-scale solar and wind projects to be developed in the county. This decision was met with applause from a full audience at a Thursday work session meeting. The commissioners sent the proposed ordinance back to Bannock County Planning and Development Council. “This is not the time or the place to be installing solar farms,” said Commissioner John Crowder.

A proposed solar facility in McGaheysville came in front of the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors Wednesday evening. However, with community members speaking on family ties to the zoned area, the project was denied. This project was zoned for the west side of Jacob Burner Drive and the southeast side of Cemetery Road. The neighboring cemetery was brought up by many of those who spoke at the public hearing in opposition to this project. They stated they have family there, and it’s where they intend to be laid to rest....No one spoke in favor of this project while a handful spoke against it. They mentioned the character of the community and how it didn’t align with the revitalization of the county’s comprehensive plan. “I don’t find this to be in substantial accord with our comprehensive plan,” Joel Hensley, Chairman for the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors said. The board voted unanimously to deny this project.

POCATELLO — The Bannock County commissioners voted against allowing large-scale solar and wind projects to be developed in the county. This decision was met with applause from a full audience at a Thursday work session meeting. The commissioners sent the proposed ordinance back to Bannock County Planning and Development Council. “This is not the time or the place to be installing solar farms,” said Commissioner John Crowder.

The Elbert County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 during Monday night's meeting to deny a conditional use permit request from Hester Hill Solar, "a wholly-owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy

Meeker County commissioners emphatically told a packed board room last week they are not against solar or wind energy. But they still voted 4-1 to “pump the brakes” on future alternative energy development in the county, approving a one-year moratorium on solar and wind energy systems following a public hearing Feb. 6. The goal, Commissioner Steve Schmitt said, is to give the county’s planning department time to review potential conflicts and questions such developments might create and to consider updates to the county’s zoning ordinance as it relates to solar and wind energy systems.

Meeker County commissioners emphatically told a packed board room last week they are not against solar or wind energy. But they still voted 4-1 to “pump the brakes” on future alternative energy development in the county, approving a one-year moratorium on solar and wind energy systems following a public hearing Feb. 6. The goal, Commissioner Steve Schmitt said, is to give the county’s planning department time to review potential conflicts and questions such developments might create and to consider updates to the county’s zoning ordinance as it relates to solar and wind energy systems.

Growing interest in wind and solar energy development — which was spurred by Xcel Energy 's intent to build a high-voltage transmission line in the region — has led two counties to adopt moratoriums on renewable energy projects.