The future of solar energy looks dim in Orange County.
Last month, the county’s planning commission voted 4-1 to recommend the board of supervisors deny a special use permit request from ESA Solar. Despite losing this critical vote and facing significant community backlash, the Maitland, Florida-based solar developer was still optimistic about its prospect in front of the board to construct a 35-acre community solar farm.
ESA’s hopes were dashed when, one week later, the board of supervisors unanimously shot down another developer’s application for a special use permit, this one for Austin, Texas-based RWE Clean Energy’s 17-acre Cunningham Springs Solar project off Monrovia Road about a quarter-mile outside the town of Orange. What made the denial all that more significant, Cunningham Springs had received the full support of the Planning Commission which had recommended the board approve the project.
The Orange County Planning Commission hears from residents voicing concerns …