(Danville) — Local planners have cleared the way for a battery storage facility at the Berry Hill Mega Park.
The Danville Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facility Authority Monday unanimously approved a lease agreement with Strata Solar. It covers 85-acres on Lot 6 of the Southern Virginia Megasite, next to an AEP substation.
Strata will get a five-year development where they can get permits and prep for construction. Any money generated from the County’s siting agreement with Strata Solar would go to the RIFA, which is a joint venture by Danville and Pittsylvania County.
RIFA member Lee Vogler says the agreement will help in more than just the obvious ways. “Lot 6 is the least developable lot in the mega site,” said Vogler. “This proposal will put something on a lot that probably would never be developed otherwise. And it still leaves the majority of the park available for development.”
The park is already served by a new double-circuit 138-kilovolt substation that provides 100 megawatts of power.
Also on Monday, RIFA endorsed a plan to widen a road serving the Berry Hill Megapark. The resolution covers easements and clearing other obstacles to allow crews to widen state Route 311.
Ten years ago, Berry Hill Road was re-designated State Route 311 to make it eligible for money from Virginia’s Primary Road system.
Crews will convert 2.3 miles of road from a two-lane undivided highway to a four-lane divided road, running from the intersection of a new connector road that’s under construction, southward to Oak Hill Road.
This will handle any extra traffic that comes once Berry Hill lands a major client. Economic developers say the connector road will improve mobility and safety on Route 58 and will reduce travel times for those accessing the Megasite.
There are 265 acres of graded industrial property at Berry Hill. Funding has been secured to widen Berry Hill Road, and the Virginia Tobacco Commission will authorize a $25 million loan to expand the gas gate serving the park. There’s already been about $290 million invested into Berry Hill.