The Northampton County Board of Commissioners approved a community benefits agreement with Sun Energy 1 and a lease agreement to house county EMS employees at the Roanoke Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department.

Economic development staff presented an executed community benefits agreement from Sun Energy 1, the developer of the Cherry Solar and Oak Solar projects, outlining an investment package the county summarized in the meeting packet. The county’s description listed the following elements from the developer’s sponsorship: $1,500,000 toward construction of a new county-owned EMS station in the western portion of the county, $250,000 toward purchase of a new ambulance, $50,000 for ambulance fleet renovation, and $100,000 for educational and youth activities — a total county summary figure the presenter described as approximately $1.9 million in community benefits tied to the company’s local projects.

The board also considered a formal lease to pay Roanoke Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department $20,000 to provide space for county EMS employees; staff said similar $20,000 agreements exist with the Town of Garysburg and Rich Square Volunteer Fire Department and that the Roanoke Wildwood lease was simply to put an agreement on file and allocate the budgeted funds.

A representative from Sun Energy 1, identified as Reginald Bynum (community relations/zoning manager for the company), spoke briefly and framed the contributions as part of the company’s community investment program. Commissioners said the proposed EMS station was much needed on the western end of the county and noted that rented EMS spaces in Garysburg lack sleeping quarters and other operational spaces. The board voted to approve the community benefits agreement and the Roanoke Wildwood lease.

Why it matters: The Sun Energy commitment, if delivered as described in the packet, would provide a sizable private investment into county emergency medical services infrastructure and vehicle capacity. The Roanoke Wildwood lease formalizes funding already budgeted to house county EMS personnel in volunteer department facilities.

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County staff said they will follow up with the developer on implementation details for the EMS station and other items in the benefits agreement and will ensure lease agreements with volunteer departments are executed as budgeted.