Solar Rejections, Data Center Bans Sweep 8 States — July 17, 2026

Solar Siting Battles

Virginia emerged as the week's epicenter of solar opposition, with local governments in two separate parts of the state delivering setbacks to proposed projects within days of each other.

In Suffolk, the City Council voted unanimously to reject a small community solar farm proposed for Old Myrtle Road after neighbors argued the project was incompatible with the area's rural character. Councilmember Timothy Johnson said the installation was "out of place," according to WHRO. The decision, also reported by 13News Now, came after residents turned out in force to voice concerns about the project's impact on the surrounding landscape.

Roughly 150 miles to the southwest in Halifax County, the Board of Supervisors approved the Boxwood Solar project in a divided vote — but the fight is far from over. At least one resident has publicly vowed to continue opposing the project even after its approval, WDBJ7 reported. The contested approval, also covered by WSET, left community members frustrated and underscored the depth of local resistance to utility-scale solar in the state's rural corridors.

In Kentucky, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Planning Commission rejected a recommendation that would have allowed large-scale solar farms in the city's agricultural zones, according to The Lexington Times. The decision effectively blocks utility-scale solar expansion into farm areas surrounding the city, reflecting concerns about converting productive agricultural land into energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a new $165 million, 99-megawatt solar project under construction near Canistota, South Dakota, is illustrating what South Dakota News Watch described as the state's "love-hate relationship" with solar power. The Grant Solar LLC project, developed by Geronimo Power on 585 acres of former farmland, received $2.8 million in state tax relief through the Reinvestment Payment Program — but neighboring residents have pushed back, even as state officials and utilities backed the development.

In Maryland, a proposed 4.95-megawatt solar project outside Pocomoke City has put the county and a local landowner at odds, prompting the town's mayor to call for a broader review of utility-scale solar policy, according to the Ocean City Today Dispatch. The dispute signals that even relatively small projects can trigger larger policy conversations.

An Illinois story offered a different angle on the siting challenge. After a zoning board rejected a community solar project, developer Planted Solar pivoted to automation and robotics to reduce the installation's physical footprint, ultimately securing a deal with Aligned, according to Latitude Media. The approach suggests some developers are exploring technological adaptations as a strategy for navigating local pushback.

Wind Energy Pushback

On the Texas Gulf Coast, residents gathered on Pleasure Island near Port Arthur to renew their protest against proposed private wind turbine projects. Demonstrators argued that the Sabine-Neches Navigation District should not approve leases for the turbines, according to 12News Now. The protest marked the latest round in an ongoing campaign by island residents who say the wind installations would harm their community.

In North Dakota, the Williams County Commission voted 3-1 to approve a one-mile setback requirement for new wind turbines from all occupied dwellings, the Williston Herald reported. The measure, which followed months of community discussion, represents a significant restriction on future wind development in the county. One-mile setbacks are generally considered prohibitive for many wind projects, as they drastically reduce the land area available for turbine placement.

Data Center Disputes

Opposition to data centers — driven by concerns over energy consumption, noise, water use, and community character — continued to gain momentum this week across multiple states.

A new statewide survey found that Californians are overwhelmingly opposed to new data center construction in their communities, CalMatters reported. The polling reflects growing public unease about the expansion of AI-driven infrastructure and its demands on local resources.

That sentiment translated directly into action in El Segundo, California, where residents showed up to a Planning Commission meeting in sufficient numbers to cause a developer to withdraw a proposal to replace an existing hotel with a large data center, according to the Mercury News. The withdrawal marked a clear win for community opponents who argued the facility was inappropriate for the site.

In Missouri, St. Charles County leaders unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on large-scale data center developments, St. Louis Public Radio reported. The ban gives county officials time to study the implications of rapid data center expansion before any new projects can move forward.

Broad-Based Moratoriums

The town of Chautauqua, New York, extended its moratoriums on wind, solar, and battery storage projects for at least another year, according to the Observer Today. Town officials confirmed there are currently no such energy projects in Chautauqua and indicated they intend to keep it that way. The blanket moratorium covering multiple energy technologies reflects a comprehensive resistance to large-scale energy development in the community.

What to Watch

Halifax County, Virginia: The fight over the Boxwood Solar project may move into legal or administrative channels as at least one resident has pledged to continue opposing the approved project. Whether opponents pursue formal appeals or other remedies could set a precedent for post-approval challenges in the region. (WDBJ7)
Pocomoke City, Maryland: The mayor's call for a broader review of utility-scale solar policy could lead to new local regulations governing where and how solar projects are sited in Worcester County, potentially affecting the disputed 4.95-MW proposal and future applications. (Ocean City Today Dispatch)
St. Charles County, Missouri: With a six-month clock now ticking on the data center moratorium, county officials will need to develop a regulatory framework for large-scale data center projects before the ban expires in early 2027. The outcome could influence how other suburban counties in the St. Louis metro area approach the issue. (St. Louis Public Radio)

Patterns and Trends

This week's stories, spanning at least eight states and multiple energy technologies, reveal several recurring dynamics. The preservation of rural and agricultural character remained the dominant concern driving solar opposition, from Virginia's unanimous council vote to Kentucky's planning commission rejection to South Dakota's community pushback — even where state economic incentives supported development. Data center opposition, once a niche concern, is rapidly maturing into a broad-based movement, with a statewide California poll, a successful resident campaign in El Segundo, and a unanimous county moratorium in Missouri all landing in the same week. Across project types, local governments are increasingly reaching for moratoriums and restrictive setback rules as their primary tools for managing the pace of energy and infrastructure development, suggesting that communities want more time and more control over decisions that are reshaping their landscapes.