A few dozen Henry County residents gathered Thursday evening at the Henry County Emergency Management Building as the Henry County Board of Supervisors hosted a public discussion on commercial solar energy, battery energy storage systems (BESS), data centers and data mining facilities.
The meeting was held as Henry County continues to work on ordinances governing the development of commercial solar projects, battery energy storage systems, data centers and data mining facilities. A temporary moratorium remains in place through December 31, 2026, while county officials gather information and draft regulations.
Henry County currently has an ordinance regulating commercial wind energy but does not yet have ordinances governing commercial solar energy, battery energy storage systems, data centers or data mining facilities.
Board Chairman Chad White said the purpose of the meeting was to hear residents’ questions and concerns before the county begins drafting regulations. White noted the Henry County Planning and Zoning Commission has already received expressions of interest from companies regarding commercial solar development, and the Board of Supervisors wants regulations in place before projects are proposed.
Joining the discussion were Bruce Hudson of the Louisa County Rural Utility Service System (RUSS) and Kevin Wheeler of Access Energy Cooperative, who shared information and answered questions from the floor during public comment.
Hudson discussed Louisa County’s experience permitting utility-scale solar projects and explained how the county has navigated environmental reviews and project approvals. He said several large projects have been proposed there, including developments of approximately 500 and 800 acres, along with another nearing 3,600 acres. Hudson added that access to infrastructure—including electricity, water, energy transmission and energy generation—is a key consideration for large-scale development.
Wheeler spoke about the region’s growing demand for electricity, saying utilities must take an “all of the above” approach to future energy generation because few, if any, new coal-fired generating plants are expected to be built. He said data centers require significant electrical capacity, often between 400 and 500 megawatts, and developers must secure power supply agreements before construction can begin. Utilities can’t provide them with enough power in many cases while still serving their other commercial and residential customers with power.
Wheeler also explained that utilities across the country are experiencing long lead times for equipment and materials because of high demand, making expansion projects increasingly challenging.
Several residents shared questions and concerns during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Diana Burden questioned whether corporations should be required to obtain permits before approaching landowners with lease agreements, expressing concern about the potential loss of productive agricultural land.
Bob Byczek said he supports solar energy and has installed 28 solar panels at his home, but questioned locating utility-scale battery storage systems on productive farmland. He also raised concerns about emergency response to lithium-ion battery fires, including water use and the potential impacts on local water resources.
Melanie Patton said she was pleased the county enacted a moratorium to allow time for careful planning. She encouraged officials to coordinate any future solar ordinance with the county’s comprehensive plan and questioned whether multibillion-dollar corporations should receive tax incentives. Patton also stressed the importance of clearly defining data centers and related terminology within any future ordinance.
Bill Crawford questioned whether Planning and Zoning has already been contacted by developers interested in Henry County and encouraged transparency as the county moves through the ordinance process.
Brian Anderson discussed closed-loop energy systems and referenced renewable energy projects already operating in neighboring Lee County. He said those projects can broaden the local tax base and generate additional revenue without increasing property taxes. Drawing on his experience installing residential solar systems, Anderson also encouraged continued conversations with state lawmakers as counties adapt to emerging energy technologies.
Near the conclusion of the meeting, Kate Byczek summarized what she believed was the shared sentiment among many in attendance. She said technological advancement is inevitable and battery storage will be necessary as renewable energy expands but encouraged the county to move cautiously and allow the industry more time to improve battery storage, solar and data center technologies before permitting large-scale development.
No action was taken during the informational meeting. Planning and Zoning will continue gathering information before developing recommendations for ordinances governing commercial solar energy, battery energy storage systems, data centers and data mining facilities. Those recommendations will eventually be forwarded to the Henry County Board of Supervisors for consideration.
Acknowledging many of the concerns expressed during the evening, White concluded, “We all like technology and need it—we just don’t want to be the guinea pigs.”