Bedford supervisors talk possible ‘preemptive’ solar rules [Video]

BEDFORD — On the heels of a Virginia General Assembly session that included talks of state involvement in regulating utility-scale solar farms, a Bedford County official has suggested looking into an ordinance for restrictive zoning measures to have in place if the legislature “forces our hand.”

The county currently has no ordinance allowing utility-scale solar farms. Bedford County Board of Supervisors District 4 member John Sharp said the county should brace for the state legislature indicating as early as next year it could pass a bill that enables bypassing localities in regulating utility-scale solar operations.

“I certainly don’t want that to be the case and I don’t like people characterizing our locality and our position on this,” Sharp said at the board’s March 11 meeting. “I think we were very clear in why we don’t believe that solar is appropriate for Bedford County because of the topography … maybe we …