The Wild Hill Solar project is one of five solar farms/industrial solar projects either in development or slated for Jefferson County, WV. The Wild Hill Solar project is a Solar Exempt Wholesale Generator (EWG) facility, meaning that it “generates electricity solely through solar voltaic or other solar methods. It includes only interconnecting transmission lines and is not owned by a utility” (Jefferson County Vision Website). A Delaware Corporation, Wild Hill Solar LLC, was awarded the site certificate from the WV Public Service Commission. The project involves 795 acres, 237,552 solar panels and is expected to generate 92.5 megawatts of power. Construction and operation of the project is by EDF Renewables. The Wild Hill Solar Project will interconnect to a Potomac-Edison transmission line. It is scheduled to become operational in 2025.
On July 11, 2024, the Jefferson County Commission voted to deny Wild Hill Solar’s PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) request. According to one news report, Wild Hill may drop plans to develop the solar facility and leave the area.
The Jefferson County Planning Commission approved a solar zoning amendment in March 2021 that allows up to 80 percent of the county’s land to be available to solar facilities by right, and that allows the building of additional solar facilities with no prior public notification. The Wild Hill Solar project has been opposed by local citizens for reasons including the use of local farmland and the fact that the electricity generated would likely be sold to out of state entities, with few benefits to the local community.
The five solar farms in or slated for Jefferson County WV are:
- Blake Solar Energy Facility (516 Acres)
- Wild Hill Solar Energy Facility (841.74 Acres)
- Rippon Energy Facility (878 Acres)
- Flowing Springs Farm Solar Energy Facility (660 Acres)
- Franklintown Farm Solar Project (502 Acres).
Contact:
1-844-943-0723 or Landowner@edf-re.com
Wildhillsolar.com
