SUMMARY OF PROJECT BENEFITS

S Power Solar Project

SUP
KEY
POINTS
Overview General:

 Project includes a 500-megawatt solar energy facility and cannot be any larger
 The Project will utilize approximately 3,500 acres for the solar power plant while
over 2,800 acres will be preserved into perpetuity and not developed
 The Applicant will first offer to the County any of the aforesaid 2,800 acres prior to
preserving the same
 Property is zoned A-3 and requires a SUP
 Under A-3 zoning, the Property could otherwise be developed for approximately
250 single family residential units
 Project is consistent with the County’s comprehensive plan
 Project meets Commonwealth of Virginia renewable energy goals and priorities
 The Project will not increase electric utility costs for citizens
 The State Corporation Commission found that the Project (i) would have no
adverse effect on the reliability of electric services; (ii) will likely generate positive
direct and indirect economic and tax revenue benefits to the County; (iii) must
comply with all Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and County
regulations and requirements; and (iv) is not contrary to the public interest.
 Project locates a 21st Century industry in Spotsylvania County without impacts to
County core services like schools, roads (long term), public safety and parks
 Project has already attracted partners such as Microsoft, Apple and the University
of Richmond

Open Space & Buffering:

 Approximately 2,800 acres will be preserved into perpetuity

 Will conserve existing trails running through the property to most reasonable extent
possible
 Project will include approximately 50% of open space
 This open space includes 200 acres in buffering along all boundary property lines.
 Setbacks vary from 50 to 400 feet along the entire project, with an average of 200
feet of setback and at times greater than 300 feet from residential boundaries, plus
at least six foot tall landscaped berms (complete shielding) in areas requiring
additional screening. This far exceeds county requirements
 For Solar panels, set-backs near Resource Protection Areas (RPA) exceed state and
county limits by 100 feet on average.
 Open space areas will also include stormwater management ponds located
throughout the Project to control runoff

Financial Benefits to the County:

 The overall Project investment is over $600 million and the estimated return to the
 county over the life of the project is over $80 million [We still need to confirm
this number]
This includes the following:
 Project includes an approximately $600 million investment in Spotsylvania County
 Approximately $10 million in total tax revenues over the life of the project; as
compared to approximately $525,000 total for 35 years under the current land use
category
 1st year alone of projected tax revenues will generate $1.3 million in tax revenues
(property tax plus roll back tax of $535,000)
 The total 2017 real estate tax revenue currently generated from all the parcels of the
Project is $15,000 +
 Over the life of the project an additional $16-18 million (or net present day value of
this amount) will be contributed to support various County priorities
 The Applicant will provide approximately $500,000 in-kind transportation
improvements at Orange Plank and Brock Road Intersection
 The Applicant will provide $3.5 million contribution (in cash) for water line
improvements to Fawn Lake Subdivision
 The Applicant will provide rooftop or ground mount solar facilities for exclusive
benefit and use of the County schools and buildings at a cost of up to $1 million to
be matched by a solar partner and overall benefit to the County of over $35 million
in electricity cost savings
 The Applicant will also provide $5.5 toward a new fire station
 The Applicant will provide $500,000 toward Belmont Park
 $54 million in immediate labor benefits during construction—18-20 months
 Approximately 700 direct new jobs during construction
 Creation of 20-25 full time positions after construction, which will generate
approximately $2.5 million annually in labor income
 As part of the project, inclusion of up to two (2) new 50,000 gallon water tanks
which will assist in supporting public safety for the entire area
 The Applicant will continue:
o to contribute to and support for County school STEM programs, et al.
o partnerships with local colleges and universities
o to be a long term community partner and key marketing point for data
center recruitment
o its membership in the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance and Chamber of
Commerce
o Commitment to long term future economic development partnership
 Please note Lidl anticipated return on investment for the County over 17 years is
$11.3 million and IDX $1.4 million which includes the donation of 40 acres of
industrial property vs. this Project which will be over $80 million

sPower Community Engagement and Economic Impact to Date include:

 sPower has spent in excess of $6.5 million to date in the County on work related
to site due diligence, studies (wetlands, cultural, wells pump tests, and others),
equipment rentals and other project development activities
 sPower has provided 3 - $500 scholarships for each of the five high schools in the
area (a total of fifteen $500 scholarships)
 sPower sponsored the $3,500 award for teacher of the year and a $1,000 teacher
 scholarship
 free mulch for the commnuity
 sPower sponsored the following:
o National Night Out ($5,000)
o Kid’s Camp ($2,500)
o Heart of Gold Gala ($5,000)
o Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Fundraiser Support
o $50,000 donation for County Fire Department support
o sPower will continue to fund and support a variety of organizations and
events over the coming months and years

Environmental, Cultural and Historic Resources

 Project is environmentally friendly and not hazardous to neighbors

 Project will protect & preserve over 2,000 acres of open-rural space
 Project will protect RPAs
 Project includes stormwater management facilities throughout the entire project
 Project includes permanent, long term stormwater management and soil erosion
control measures
 sPower will plant native pollinator plants as recommended by DEQ
 Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Forestry,
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and US Army Corps of Engineers all
have reviewed the Project and made recommendations which will be incorporated
as part of this Project
 County and all applicable State agencies will maintain regulatory control over the
Project

Preservation and Protection of Water Supply

 Project goal is to utilize 100% of its water supply during construction from County
utilities and will not impact local aquifers during construction
 After construction, water utilization will be at a minimum

Transportation

 Transportation management plan will be fully reviewed by the Virginia Department

of Transportation and County
 Access to and from the Project during construction will include eight (8) access
points
 Project includes a traffic management plan to address and mitigate construction
traffic impacts on peak hour and school traffic
 Long term operations will require very few trips

Decommission

 Decommission plan generally includes all costs to restore the site to a natural
setting, remove all solar facilities, and recycle materials
 Updated every two (2) years
 Includes bonding requirements adjusted according to aforesaid update; costs to be
 stamped and signed by engineers, and verified by 3rd party engineers

Sound Mitigation

 Project will be in compliance with the County’s noise ordinance both during and
after construction

State Corporation Commission (SCC) Approvals

 The SCC issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity on August 8,
2018

Zoning & Setback requirements for A-3:

Comp Plan 23-6.4.4 (e) Minimum yards:
(1) Front: Thirty (30) feet.
(2) Side: Ten (10) feet.
(3) Rear: Thirty-five (35) feet.
(4) Sawmills, twenty (20) acres or greater:
(i) Front: Thirty (30) feet.
(ii) Side: One hundred (100) feet.
(iii) Rear: One hundred (100) feet.

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