Caden Energix Hickory, LLC in Chesapeake, VA is the US subsidiary of Energix, an Israeli company owned by Alony Hetz. Both Energix and Aloney Hetz do business in Israeli-occupied territories.

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Documents

The Caden Energix Hickory, LLC solar company plans to build and operate a 32 Megawatt power generating facility within the jurisdiction of the city of Chesapeake, Virginia.

 It is part of parent company Energix's plans to build half a billion dollars worth of solar energy farms across the state. Sites where preliminary permitting work has already occurred include Axton (66 MW) Gladys (60 MW), Jarrat (82.5 MW)  and Wytheville (20 MW).

In its 2018 annual report, the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, a state agency which functions as a taxpayer funded export promotion board for Israel, announced it was supporting the project:

"Project Turbine – A multi-billion dollar Israeli real estate and renewable energy concern with significant properties in D.C. and Northern Virginia is developing several solar energy sites in Virginia to produce electricity. Expanding renewable energy capacity is a requirement of major data centers to locate in Virginia."

VIAB may have been referring to Energix's massive wind turbines, generating 155 MW, developed in 2015 within the Israeli occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Unfortunately, they used "questionable methods in obtaining access to the land from its indigenous Syrian-Druze owners, and in violation of international law."

Energix also owns and operates the 5 MW capacity "Meitarim Solar Field" in the Israeli occupied Jordan Valley on 98,749 square meters of Palestinian land. Palestinian villages in the surrounding Mount Hebron area have been "suffering from forcible displacement, demolitions, lack of basic services and overall economic strangulation." Many Palestinians cannot buy electricity nor are they allowed to own or operate solar for their own use. Those that try, often see them confiscated and destroyed.

Alony-Hetz holds a controlling share and 61.9 percent stake in Energix. It also has a  58.22 percent stake in Amot Investments Ltd., an Israeli real estate firm that owns Amot Ariel, an industrial building in the Ariel West Industrial Zone, in the illegal settlement of Ariel in the occupied Palestinian West Bank.

A legal analysis of Energix and other solar energy developer and operators, finds that "Article 55 of the Hague Regulations prohibits Israel as an occupying power from appropriating land for economic exploitation.  International humanitarian law rules of usufruct also prohibit using the land for such commercial and industrial purposes. The Hague Regulations and Fourth Geneva Convention prohibit settlements under occupation and consider them to be war crimes. "Israeli solar fields in the West Bank establish facts on the ground and for a final part of the Israeli industrialization of the OPT [occupied territories]. By taking up massive swaths of occupied land and contributing to the expansion of settlements, those commercial solar fields facilitate and strengthen the expansion of settlements, those commercial solar fields facilitate and strengthen the settlement enterprise as a whole."

In its otherwise stringent permitting and due diligence process for the site, the City of Chesapeake has never once solicited information about, or contemplated the moral hazard involved in allowing a foreign company so deeply tied to human rights violations overseas, do business in Chesapeake.

This lack of due diligence into the corporate culture and ultimate beneficial owners could produce negative outcomes for the city. It has already happened. Greensville County, after providing numerous taxpayer subsidies to another VIAB project, Oran Safety Glass, is now saddled with an Israeli military contractor struggling to obtain government contracts after it repeatedly delivered out-of-spec armor to the U.S. Army. Tazewell County, which invested $1.5 million in yet another VIAB project a half decade ago (alongside a $10 million Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority loan pledge) has nothing to show for its subsidy.

Except where noted, the files below were released under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, 2.2-3704 or obtained from public sources. They are presented as they were received.

Document Title/ Date	Source	Subject
Database of all business enterprises involved in the activities detailed in paragraph 96 of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Feburary 2020	United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights	Energix Renewal Energies, Ltd listed as as a Category G company in occuppied territories. This covers "the use of natural resources, in particular water and land, for business purposes. As such, it is considered to include business enterprises that are physically located on land in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in addition to those that benefit commercially from the use of natural resources located in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, irrespective of such business enterprises’ physical presence."
Greenwashing the Occupation, The Solar Energy Industry and the Israeli Occupation, January, 2017	Who Profits (Backup copy)	Arizona based First Solar has supplied 104,000 solar panels for installation in the Israeli occupied West Bank. (PDF p. 23) Energix Renewable Energies (controlled by Alony Hetz Properties and Investments) is the majority owner and operates the 5 MW capacity "Meitarim Solar Field" in the Israeli occupied Jordan Valley on 98,749 square meters of Palestinian land. Palestinian villages in the surrounding Mount Hebron area have been "suffering from forcible displacement, demolitions, lack of basic services and overall economic strangulation." Many Palestinians cannot buy electricity nor are they allowed to own or operate solar for their own use. In 2015 Energix contracted and owns a 155 MW wind turbine facility in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. Article 55 of the Hague Regulations prohibits Israel as an occupying power from appropriating land for economic exploitation.  International humanitarian law rules of usufruct also prohibit using the land for such commercial and industrial purposes. The Hague Regulations and Fourth Geneva Convention prohibit settlements under occupation and consider them to be war crimes. "Israeli solar fields in the West Bank establish facts on the ground and for a final part of the Israeli industrialization of the OPT [occupied territories]. By taking up massive swaths of occupied land and contributing to the expansion of settlements, those commercial solar fields facilitate and strengthen the expansion of settlements, those commercial solar fields facilitate and strengthen the settlement enterprise as a whole."
Alony-Hetz Properties and Investment Ltd is an Israeli investment firm. Its subsidiary Energix Renewable Energy has projects in the occupied West Bank and Golan Heights. Its subsidiary Amot Investments owns an industrial building in the occupied West Bank. June 25, 2019	American Friends Service Committee (Backup)	Accountability organization report that "Alony-Hetz also holds a controlling share and a 58.22 percent stake in Amot Investments Ltd., an Israeli real estate firm that owns Amot Ariel, an industrial building in the Ariel West Industrial Zone, in the illegal settlement of Ariel in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. That building has been leased to Barkan Mounting Systems." In the U.S. Alony-Hetz owned a 43.65 percent stake in Carr Properties, a U.S.-based real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns properties in the Washington D.C. and Boston areas. "Alony-Hetz holds a controlling share and 61.9 percent stake in Energix Renewable Energy Ltd., which owns a commercial solar farm located in the Meitarim illegal settlement industrial zone in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. Energix has also developed a wind energy project in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, reportedly using questionable methods in obtaining access to the land from its indigenous Syrian-Druze owners, and in violation of international law."
News report Israel's Energix to buy $120 million of Solar Panels from First Solar May 16, 2019	Reuters (Backup)	News report that Energix Renewable Energies said it would purchase $120 million of solar panels from Arizona based First Solar, paying $5 million down payment followed by a further $60 million in the second half of 2019. Unconfirmed whether that ever took place.
Conditional Use Permit Application, Filed January 9, 2017, including year 2018 documentation	City of Chesapeake	Articles of incorporation, chain of subsidiary corporations from Energix in Israel to Caden Energix, Newbern Farms LLC (the land owner) formation documents, Powers of Attorney to Kenneth Niemann, EIN assignment, Miami Beach office address of related LLCs Hickory 1 & 2, list of adjacent landowners, site maps.
Conditional Use Permit and Cover Letter - February 14, 2018	Department of Environmental Quality	Conditional Use Permit granted to Ken Niemann of North Ridge Resources, LLC on February 14, 2018 by the City of Chesapeake with zoning variances.
Map January, 2017	City of Chesapeake	Timmons Group map of Energix in relation to other proposed solar sites at Centerville Pike, TWE Chesapeake, half mile scale.
Conditional Use Permit Application, 2017	City of Chesapeake	New Energy Ventures Hickory Solar Farm application, land owned by Newbern Farms, LLC, Agent Ken Niemann, North Ridge Resources, also the developer.
Permit By Rule materials. Various dates.	Department of Environmental Quality	Permit by Rule (PBR) materials. Application review Committee of Chesapeake comments on the application. Regulatory history, permit applications, interconnection study and agreement with Dominion Energy Virginia on October 15, 2018. Certification of maximum generation capacity (32 MW), impact on Air quality and natural resources, mitigation plan, operation plan, site plan and context map, certification of application for environmental permits, public comment history, payment of $10,000 by North Ridge Resources.(SCC info, LLC setup)
Memorandum, February 2, 2017 and related documents	City of Chesapeake
Hickory Solar Farm Amendments to permit, summary of City Council Action January 15, 2019	City of Chesapeake	Planning commission hearing to change previously granted conditional use permit. Strikes need to submit a Landscape Plan prior to construction. Need to install 6-19 foot perimeter fence, buffer yard, run-off control permit, need for underground power lines, lower electromagnetic interference solar  panel inverters. Need to give 30 days notice of any change of ownership, 180 days for cessation/abandonment of use. Emergency Management Plan. Liability coverage insurance. 120 mph wind resistance. Solar panel technology requirements. Since generators is receiving tax exemptions in VA, requirement to pay $50k to City of Chesapeake Open Space and Agricultural Preservation Program to be paid prior to receiving Certificate of Occupancy. Prohibition on herbicide use. Strike need for 150-250 foot setbacks. Fire lane access. Requirement to submit a Decommissioning Plan. Presentation from manufacturer First Solar. Opposition from neighbors Joseph Unstrap and Doug Vanderlip. Measures are approved 9-0.
Memorandum January 22, 2018	City of Chesapeake	Applicant proposals on providing $50K to City of Chesapeake and vegetation management without herbicides, evergreen buffer and fencing height.
Hickory Solar Farm Docket Item B, PLN-USE-2017-003 January 23, 2018	City of Chesapeake	Planning Commission recommends construction of commercial entrance, Landscape Plan, and other changes. Project opposed by Joseph Tuinstra, Tom Freeman, Wayne Dawn, Russell Meier, Larry Crum. Carried 8-1.
Hickory Solar Farm Amendments to permit, summary of City Council Action February 23, 2018	City of Chesapeake	List of prior public hearings, approval of changes to permit requiring $50k payment to City of Chesapeake Open Space and Agricultural Preservation Program, vegetation management without herbicide, and changes to security fencing.
Hickory Solar Farm Docket Item A, PLN-USE-2017-003 February 13, 2018	City of Chesapeake	Memo about applicant's efforts to promote and preserve agricultural lands.
Hickory Solar Farm Docket Item F, PLN-USE-2017-003 June 20, 2017	City of Chesapeake	Ken Niemann states that the Hickory project will "max out the substation" so that "additional capacity would be cost-prohibitive." Rogard Ross and Jeff Staples appear to approve of solar energy, along with Richard Burroughs, the property owner. Joseph Tuinstra appears to oppose the plan, impact on property values, minimal jobs generation, and storm water problem. Transfer of losses in Fauquier County to customers. Also Tom Freeman, Wayne Dawn, Russell Meier and Larry Crum.
Hickory Solar Farm Docket Item C, PLN-USE-2017-003 September 19, 2017	City of Chesapeake	Stipulation that the project is located in the Northwest River Watershed Protection District Prior to any construction plan approval the applicant must apply for and received a valid Run Off Control Permit from the Department of Public Utilities. FINDING that the proposed solar farm facility meets the goals and policies of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Plan specifically for alternative energy development, and "realistic, cost-effective measures that provide "tangible benefits to local air quality as well as long term quality of life and economic benefits Increase energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy."
Hickory Solar Farm Docket Item C, PLN-USE-2017-003 December 19, 2017	City of Chesapeake	Kenneth Niemann testifies that a "Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment found no issues there are no impacts to endangered species historic resources and wetlands The U S Navy has approved the use." Also that there will be no heat or glare impact. Commissioner Kish asked Mr. Neimann to describe the power transfer to Dominion Power and any rate increases Mr. Neimann replied that rates are controlled by the State Corporation Commission He also stated that there is no guarantee that Dominion Power will buy their power since there are at least 60 applications under consideration to sell their power. Neimann testifies that "The project will take eight 8 months to construct Jobs will be sourced locally mostly electricians After construction the project is unmanned except for maintenance visits one to two 1 2 times per month."
Hickory Solar site Decommissioning Plan, October 28, 2019	City of Chesapeake	Decommissioning Plan for the City of Chesapeake prepared by Caden Energix Hickory LLC,  residing at 2311 Wilson Blvd, Suite 640, Arlington, VA 22201 (A Carr Property, built and owned by Alony Hetz, the owner of Energix, and also serving as the headquarters of Energix US, LLC.). Forecasts that in 35 years it will cost $2.2 million to decommission the site, or $218 thousand after salvage.
Hickory Solar Farm Memo PLN-USE-2017-003 April 28, 2017	City of Chesapeake	Applicant/owner need to submit a landscape plan, detailing buffers, glint and glare issues, proximity to U.S. Navy's Fentress airfield easements. Storage shed will be no more than 250 feet square.
TUVRheinland report September 27, 2016	City of Chesapeake	TUVRheinland analytical report submitted to Trina Solar about the toxicity of  substances that leach from solar panels such as arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium and silver. Earlier reports.
Notice(s) of Intent - Caden Energix projects in other jurisdictions September 30, 2019	Department of Environmental Quality	Energix notice of intent filed for utility scale projects in Axton (66 megawatts), Gladys (60 megawatts), Jarrat (82.5 megawatts) and Wythe (20 megawatts).
Building Permit October 25, 2019	Department of Development and Permits	HICKORY SOLAR FARM - THE INSTALLATION OF A 32.0 MW SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATING FACILITY ON APPROXIMATELY 155.18 ACRES OF LAND. THE SOLAR POWER PLANT WILL BE A GROUND-MOUNTED HORIZONTAL AXIS TRACKER SYSTEM. 700 Ballentine RD, Chesapeake, VA. Permit number BLD-COM-2019-00442.
Building Permit Application August 22, 2019	Department of Development and Permits	$23 million estimated construction cost. Contractor Dale Curtiss of Energix EPC US LLC.
Stipulations February 13, 2018	Department of Development and Permits	a. In light of tax exemptions afforded to solar facilities in Virginia and in an effort to promote and preserve agricultural lands, the applicant/owner agrees to make an annual contribution of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) to the City of Chesapeake' s Open Space and Agricultural Preservation Program or similar program as approved by the Director of Planning or designee. The first contribution shall be paid prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for this use and each annual contribution shall be paid every twelve ( 12) months thereafter.B. The applicant/owner shall also install and maintain a 6-feet security fence around the entire perimeter of the solar farm prior to the Issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the use. Said fence shall be between six (61 to ten ( 10) feet in heiaht The fence shall not exceed six 161 feet in height unless the applicant owner receives the approval of a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals. In no case shall the solar panels exceed the height of the security fence. Karen E. Shaffer.
Record Details September 16, 2019	Department of Development and Permits	Building permit fee assessment and invoice for $122,522.81 to Energix EPC US LLC.
Data Sheet Undated	Department of Development and Permits	Utility Power Rack 5000 / 5500 - SMA "turnkey solution for the North American utility PV market."
Statement of Structural Tests and Special Inspections September 11, 2019	Department of Development and Permits	Results submitted by Gary S. Johnson, Commonwealth of Virginia, Professional Engineer.
PPP Loan Data by State PPP Loans going to VA solar utilities, $350,000 and above (Excel)	Small Business Administration	Energix EPC US LLC captures an estimated 33% of all Paycheck Protection Program loans in the $350,000 and above category for the state of Virginia.

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