Editor, The Smithfield Times:

Isle of Wight’s Carrollton is the best BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) location due to energy end users’ concentration, which lessens existing BESS energy losses paid by the ratepayer. Still, a simple ban on BESS is better and wiser!  

There has been no Virginia BESS growth trend since 2021. Using PJM Interconnection and Dominion IRP for reference, Isle of Wight has one BESS-related project and its feasibility study is listed as withdrawn! Without need and a success path protecting the ratepayer or county, a BESS revisit only serves as perceived political ambition and could invite BESS into Isle of Wight.  

Like most Virginia counties, Isle of Wight lacks the technical pulse to prevent itself from being vulnerable prey for the renewable industries. If county supervisors revisit BESS expecting prodigious results without a BESS ban, then certain previous practices in committees and commissioned groups must be avoided.   

From the Stormwater Committee and the Energy Task Force shortcomings, remove any advisory group from the county’s limiting bureaucratic hold and facilitation. Such removal liberates the groups’ suspicions of bureaucracy and stonewalling played by the county administration leadership, restrictions of FOIA communication and individuals’ political posturing. Take note of the naysayers to this proposal! 

The Virginia Association of Counties and the Planning Commission serve well, but they are not geared for energy technical decisions. VACo participates in the state’s Commission on Electric Utility Regulation; if VACo had an unleashed technical pulse, it would have already assisted.   The latest solar ordinance change came out of the Planning Commission and the Planning Commission did not challenge the latest solar ordinance revision.  

Historically and in blind faith, the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors was left with no choice but to allow the solar foxes to come into the county henhouse.   

No BESS foxes in Isle of Wight. Do not play energy savvy or ahead of a curve with an unnecessary and premature ordinance that could draw BESS trouble.

 

David Tucker

Rushmere