The Gloucester Planning Commission met virtually last Thursday night to discuss its concerns about utility-scale solar projects in Gloucester and voted unanimously to recommend that supervisors place a moratorium on accepting any more solar applications until the county can have in-person meetings again.

Before the commission’s solar discussion, planners received several comments from concerned residents expressing their concerns over utility-scale solar projects continuing in Gloucester.

“It has recently come to our attention that concerns have been raised as to the approximate costs associated with the decommissioning of solar power plants as well as associated costs for land reclamation to restore farm land to their former productive state,” wrote Collin Riley of Gloucester’s York District from the Partners for Responsible Land Use and Heritage Preservation.

“It should also be noted that the soon-to-be-proposed Thompson Farm Solar Plant is in an eco-sensitive area borderin...