[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6653309,"mediaKeyId","2484025-2f94222c9509bfd051b48e9ec7f4fbb3","parentId",2484025,"title","Votes at a glance: Greene County commissioners approve moratorium, utility easements and several appointments","audioSeconds",682,"startMs",2269000,"endMs",2951000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484025-2f94222c9509bfd051b48e9ec7f4fbb3&start=2269&end=2951","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484025-2f94222c9509bfd051b48e9ec7f4fbb3/thumbnail_2269000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6653309/Greene-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Greene-County-commissioners-approve-moratorium-utility-easements-and-several-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653309-928cb1d9d3a69579140340621c56f4fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135473&Signature=hrXN2TnLA9QwSq5cD3moQPEo~kv~ODNMV1WJ7wwDw90gFxMcZHSgnP7ZqnwRIwqI8fDwv8CfmPb8~JG52MqX3doeGERQQoxOCLAJdR9N3mfSwOeFq7wF2gE0LY-W3Sa9PYLPsNSqBS-ZGZCyl0qx2OEDmmZbAY1oh7-QrbC11pIVeJodbdHdd9Swln3WJpLvzTWJtEU-7rnwZkMRT85rKNTWA6K4U59UN0EGK-esG7AO-PPiJ9meT1rpuwSfUeef-ogCd-ExRYCELGlROQ-BJUHdyOzu7geQC5i5NF2IvfmRmOc5vVqZ7MYIxmKXNNW~s860XqZyK-bqv37tASUcfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Greene County","date","2025-03-04T13:07:34.927Z","article","At its meeting, the Greene County Board of Commissioners recorded the following formal actions (voice votes unless noted):

- Adopted a moratorium on accepting special-use permit applications for solar farms for approximately two years to allow review and revision of the county ordinance; the moratorium is not retroactive and will not affect already-permitted projects. (Motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as “the ayes have it.”)

- Approved temporary-construction agreements and related compensation terms for Piedmont Natural Gas’s distribution-line extension to service a new high school (and a separate phase toward the prison); staff were authorized to finalize agreements and ensure owner notification. (Motion moved and seconded; approved.)

- Added item 4 (a budget amendment for the senior citizen center funded by ARPA/Arbor funds) to the consent agenda and approved the consent agenda with that addition. (Motion moved and seconded; approved.)

- Approved appointments and reappointments to the Board of Adjustments and Planning Board: the board moved to reappoint or appoint the recommended candidates and approved those motions by voice vote. Names referenced in the transcript include Christy Stroud, Leslie Mooring (Board of Adjustments), Donald Beaman, Allen Harper, Austin Bryce (Planning Board) and alternates including Tyler Harper and Jim (or June) Davenport; the transcript contained inconsistent spellings for some applicants and alternates, so the board’s official records should be consulted for final name spellings and seat assignments. (Motion(s) moved and seconded; approved.)

- Approved a motion to go into closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(1) and (a)(6) and later returned to open session; the board then adjourned. (Motion(s) moved, seconded; voice votes recorded.)

Where the transcript did not provide a roll-call tally or full mover/second names, the minutes recorded voice approvals. For detailed vote tallies, mover/second attribution and precise candidate name spellings, consult the board’s official minutes and signed resolutions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Commissioners Meeting - March 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a two-year moratorium on new solar-farm special-use permit applications, authorized temporary construction easements for Piedmont Natural Gas, added a senior center budget amendment to the consent agenda and approved multiple board appointments and reappointments.","taxTitle","Greene County, North Carolina","taxId",72473,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653318,"Commissioners approve temporary-construction agreements for Piedmont Natural Gas extension to serve new high school",544,1708000,2252000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484025-2f94222c9509bfd051b48e9ec7f4fbb3&start=1708&end=2252","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484025-2f94222c9509bfd051b48e9ec7f4fbb3/thumbnail_1708000.jpg","/articles/6653318/Greene-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-approve-temporary-construction-agreements-for-Piedmont-Natural-Gas-extension-to-serve-new-high-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653318-604467d0c1dfeb01b75d2c6063e40da6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135473&Signature=kuJVoJVV5A7wfB~xIc86U9KOUJi-W1gpghfmlkyVvC-7wEvzvbBvcLLE9e94CBXciE1-oQEi59QrYjK-cGqBZDJqhpkKix6hegMiT7neRXKmbBr9249v2M2sfuEKbhvD9gTRvlR2Eh-c009PXsIzHSZbACWm9c0NIe3xUsgC9tsL0kHyyfu28kU95Sv521sOzcHNjAfQFBtzDjLfmL84LeJaCmTiC0g8o2VqU2KOtDsJloZPpofW4~cxDBXelWammgOhp~M3KkIe6ZcPY6Jbx~e3P4uKWRfYncMZwhI-ZpZ7ksJ94SfYUxApbvuQgMvzASkE3PPkYZZwvCvNo82e3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Greene County Board of Commissioners approved a request from DESI Incorporated, a land-acquisition firm representing Piedmont Natural Gas, to proceed with temporary-construction agreements and associated compensation for certain parcels where deeds read to a center line.

Damian Gomez, a land agent for DESI Incorporated, told the board that some deeds along the proposed route read to a center line, and Piedmont was offering a $250 payment to owners of parcels where that wording could affect construction rights. Gomez said the company would offer the same payment to the county for any county-owned tracts affected and that the project is being done in phases: one extension to the new high school and another route toward the prison.

Gomez said some segments will be trenched and others bored and that the company had obtained required NCDOT permits for work in the state right of way. He said land agents had been contacting private landowners and that neighboring properties would be notified before construction begins. “We notify everybody before this work gets done,” Gomez said.

Commissioners asked route and timing questions. Gomez said the line will connect at a point near Kingold Boulevard and will reach the high school area; the extension toward the prison is a separate route. A motion to approve the request was made, seconded and passed by voice vote.

The board’s approval authorizes staff to continue negotiations and to accept the temporary-construction easements and compensation described by DESI Incorporated, and directs staff to ensure affected property owners are notified before construction activity.","The board approved staff recommendation to allow county-owned parcels to accept temporary construction easements and offered compensation terms, enabling Piedmont Natural Gas to extend distribution lines to a new high school and, in a separate phase, toward a prison facility.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653323,"Greene County adopts two-year moratorium on new solar-farm special-use permits after public safety, decommissioning and notice concerns",1354,248000,1602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484025-2f94222c9509bfd051b48e9ec7f4fbb3&start=248&end=1602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484025-2f94222c9509bfd051b48e9ec7f4fbb3/thumbnail_248000.jpg","/articles/6653323/Greene-County/North-Carolina/Greene-County-adopts-two-year-moratorium-on-new-solar-farm-special-use-permits-after-public-safety-decommissioning-and-notice-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653323-0e5e76db3285b4fac8243f20aa7a5bb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135473&Signature=AB4BVyLSuBZ~h4wrDwSzeQwEaBq0AW-NHXqR5hp3Ckodt3XpaY7sIotesg3xZZ17Pzym~jZZE0yDo6HLAjGacJdZ52CI75O0o58J1AYCM-WVczFBgChBPy06P7OD5b-I4CKQLaWqcSjCdrlvtj15OnHAV8PwTF~jviUY-rjwWC6pS4nfqmw-596Wl800ud8VRNI~t75nTTUr119sg0hDXvUK63OSXKakrhSjqXAtwmkBv0B7sBKJoUiiCxNFfonF--Mi7SNWwxC50fbFdCyES-14A5C2Z5n6ogBP4wPSsQuBq6PE0il3631Xe6HVuJzeT~w4j03eXGgKg1w9Ru~KGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Greene County Board of Commissioners on a voice vote approved a two-year moratorium on accepting new special-use permit applications for solar farms, saying the pause will give the county time to review and update its ordinance and consult outside experts.

The moratorium will not be retroactive, County Attorney (name not specified) told the public, meaning solar projects already permitted under existing county ordinance and state law would not be affected. The measure passed after an extended public hearing that included residents’ accounts of trespass, concerns about fire response to battery storage units, and complaints that nearby landowners learned of development plans only after private company outreach several years earlier.

Residents said they were worried about fire risk and long-term environmental effects of large battery installations tied to solar farms. “What am I gonna do? Y’all gonna burn up my pine trees that I planted 20 years ago,” said Christy Riles, a local landowner, during public comment. Riles also said she had questions about decommissioning and whether equipment and buried wiring would be removed when a project ends.

The county attorney explained that decommissioning requirements and some aspects of solar development are governed by North Carolina state law and that the county cannot override state requirements. “Decommissioning is regulated by the state of North Carolina,” the county attorney said during the hearing, and the moratorium would give the county time to “review the ordinance and update it, add anything that needs to be added to it, or take anything away from it.”

Several speakers urged clearer public notification earlier in the process. “They turned in the paperwork. They’ve done everything they needed to do, but the public did not know it till December,” resident Bobby Joan Muver said, describing outreach that occurred years before county permitting. Commissioners acknowledged gaps in public notice and said changes to the county’s communication process will be a focus of the ordinance review.

Public safety questions centered on large battery storage attached to some solar projects. A speaker identifying himself as representing local fire services said crews are training to respond but described current protocol as allowing certain battery fires to burn while mitigation continues. The sheriff (name not specified) told a resident who alleged timber was cut on her land that she should file a report so the sheriff’s office could investigate potential trespass.

During the hearing the county repeatedly emphasized that the moratorium would halt acceptance of new special-use permit applications for approximately two years to allow the county to hire third-party consultants, review state law and county ordinance, and develop improved public outreach and notification procedures. Several commissioners said they wanted third-party technical and policy advice to inform any ordinance changes.

The moratorium was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The county attorney clarified again before the vote that the moratorium would not apply to facilities already built under existing permits.","After a public hearing marked by resident concerns about fire response, decommissioning and lack of advance notice, the Greene County Board of Commissioners approved a two-year moratorium on accepting special-use permit applications for solar farms to allow review and revision of the county ordinance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Greene County commissioners approve moratorium, utility easements and several appointments

Commissioners approve temporary-construction agreements for Piedmont Natural Gas extension to serve new high school

Greene County adopts two-year moratorium on new solar-farm special-use permits after public safety, decommissioning and notice concerns