During a public hearing with regard to a request to rezone agricultural property for use as a solar panel farm, a host of Surry County residents - and, solar energy supporters from Norfolk and Williamsburg - rose in support of the request. They endorsed the proposed project as a "New perspective for Surry."

"It is farming. You are farming electricity. You are doing something that will never hurt our land, won't hurt our environment, and can only proceed to help Surry grow even more - whether that's through tourism, through tax dollars - I think it will only make people look at Surry more favorable," said Bridgett Jones, vice mayor of Claremont.