RICHMOND, Va., January 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Citing widespread and deceptive Energix Renewable Energies practices multiple Virginia communities have petitioned state and municipal authorities to withhold permits. Energix is headquartered in Ramat Gan, Israel. Energix has been denied permits or forced to withdraw applications in five Virginia counties:
- New Kent Solar
- Helios Solar in Pulaski County
- Racehorse Solar in Caroline County
- Lily Pond Solar in Dinwiddie County
- Westlake Solar in Franklin County
$1.8 billion in 35-year Energix revenue has been stalled or canceled according to one IRmep estimate using 2023 EIA electricity price forecasts.
Energix is alleged to mislead communities about its track record by filing misleading Notices of Intent (NOI) or filing them so late in the state permitting process they raise no stakeholder awareness.
To rectify this, the Virginia Coalition for Human Rights (VCHR) submitted public comments to a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) petition to tighten regulations and eliminate deficient Notices of Intent. DEQ suggests NOIs must be submitted as soon as practicable in the development process.
In the lead petition filed by Rockingham County Citizens for Responsible Solar (RCCRS), VCHR also petitioned that future NOI’s identify the parent company (Energix) rather than only anonymous LLC shell companies.
Comments from four counties appeared on the petition:
- Rockingham County residents requested that DEQ cancel the Permit-by-Rule for Endless Caverns North and South because of years of misleading Energix filings. Rockingham petitioners documented how Energix “weaponized” DEQ and municipal orders that mandated mitigation of stormwater runoff. Energix refused to pay the contractor that performed the work resulting in a hefty mechanics lien against the property owners who leased land to Energix.
- RCCRS claimed that Energix has no plan to manage the estimated 800 pounds of toxic cadmium e-waste from the solar panels to be placed at both sites.
- Caroline County residents supported a DEQ rule change to require NOIs be submitted before county zoning votes and to prohibit “ghost” LLC filings.
- Carroll County residents claimed Energix, in a public notice published in the Galax Gazette, falsely claimed its River Trail Solar project had already received county approval.
- Henry County residents supported early NOI notification DEQ rule changes.
VCHR’s Jeanne Trabulsi vacoalition4hr@gmail.com presented a 2022 information overview about Energix importing its worst overseas practices into the US at the National Press Club.