Christine Marshall addresses Jefferson County Commission appointees James Cook and Kelvin Upson at a town hall meeting about solar projects and PILOT programs on July 1. Toni Milbourne

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The upstairs ballroom of the War Memorial Building was filled to overflow on July 1, as Jefferson County Commission appointees Kelvin Upson and James Cook hosted a town hall to garner opinions on the request by Wild Hill Solar for a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) for its proposed industrial solar compound.

The two shared that they wanted to hold the meeting to allow citizens to share their points of view — and they heard plenty.

Approximately 150 individuals filled the room, with overflow going down the staircase in the Shepherdstown Community Club’s gathering place.

Upson told attendees at the beginning of the meeting that he felt long-term planning is a key role of the commission, and he hoped to get information to share with the county planning commission.

“I have talked to many stakeholders,” Upson said. “But you, the public, are stakeholders, too.”

Each speaker was allowed three minutes at the microphone to share their thoughts on the PILOT request or on solar in general. Of all who spoke, only four were found to be in favor of the PILOT and industrial solar in general.

One was Richard Zigler, one of the farmers potentially leasing land to Wild Hill. Zigler spoke about property rights and that he has the right to do with his property what he wishes. The other speakers included the attorney representing Wild Hill and two employees of EDF Renewables, who are working with the Wild Hill Solar project.

Time after time, speakers echoed one another, as they asked where their tax breaks were, questioning why the county would consider giving away such an excessive amount of tax dollars when there are so many needs to address here.

Concerns were voiced over industrial solar projects in general, with many speakers referencing the Blake project that has been completed on Route 115 and Kabletown Road. Fears of groundwater infiltration by hazardous materials were referenced several times, as were falling property values of those who are unfortunate enough to have homes and property adjacent to the solar projects.

“There is no place for these in residential areas. They affect resale and are an utter eyesore,” said Jean Vezzosi, as he also commented on safety issues should fire break out in the solar area.

While Wild Hill Solar representatives attempted to ensure attendees that their company would not do things such as scrape off all of the topsoil on the farmland or ignore setback regulations, they still stressed that without the requested PILOT, the project would not be viable.

Mike Mood, candidate for Jefferson County Commission from the Middleway District and owner of two businesses in Jefferson County, spoke to what he called the “foolishness” of such a proposal.

“I’ve listened to the Wild Hill proposal twice, where they say the only way they can survive is with a PILOT. But we should not be paying. They should be paying to help build a county tax base,” he said.

Delegate Bill Ridenour concurred when he was at the podium, saying that if he had presented such a business plan in his college economics courses, his professors would have thrown him out of class.

“The PILOT doesn’t make any sense as it’s written,” Ridneour said.

Regardless of how it is written, the voices of the people were loud and clear when saying they don’t want the county to approve such a PILOT, and they don’t want more solar compounds coming to the county, especially when there have been no real benefits explained.

“Where are the people who can tell us the benefits who are not profiting from these projects?” questioned Stacey Tabb. “The public is not being heard.”

Circuit Clerk Tina Renner agreed, as she said, “I have been to every meeting, and everyone is against solar. Yet, here we are again. It’s been a year and a half listening to this. Do what the people ask you to do and move on.”

In commenting on Upson’s early reference to stakeholders, Madge Morningstar told him, “We are the only stakeholders — the people who live here.”

At the conclusion of the nearly three-hour meeting, Cook expressed his thanks and indicated that with what he heard, he could publicly say that he could not vote for a PILOT program until the “system” is fixed.

“Solar is not bad. An incentive is not bad,” Cook said. “But they have to fit with a plan.”

Upson did not commit one way or another to how he may vote on the upcoming agenda item on the PILOT program request. He simply thanked individuals for coming, adding that he had hoped for a robust discussion and he certainly got that.