Dominion Energy Virginia to develop 500 MW of new solar projects

Dominion Energy Virginia has proposed nine solar facilities that would bring nearly 500 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy to customers, enough to power around 125,000 homes at peak output. The proposal comes just months after the enactment of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) and builds on what is already the third-largest solar portfolio among utility holding companies in the United States.

President of Dominion Energy Virginia, Ed Baine said "This filing is another concrete step toward our commitment to bring more renewable energy to Virginia and build a clean, sustainable future for our customers and our Commonwealth".

Six of the nine new solar projects totaling 416 of the 498 megawatts of energy at peak output are power purchase agreements selected following a competitive solicitation process. This collaborative approach with solar developers contributes to building a clean energy economy in the Commonwealth and helps fulfill the VCEA requirement to have approximately a third of new solar and onshore wind through 2035 be procured through power purchase agreements.

The three utility-owned solar projects are expected to provide over US$100 million in direct and indirect economic benefits in Virginia and will support approximately 750 jobs:

• Grassfield Solar in the City of Chesapeake was acquired from Solar Access Development Group, LLC and Blue Green Energy, LLC and would provide 20 MW at peak output.
• Norge Solar in James City County was acquired from Clearway Energy Group and would provide 20 MW at peak output.
• Sycamore Solar in Pittsylvania County was acquired from a joint venture between Open Road Renewables, LLC and MAP Energy, LLC and would provide 42 MW at peak output.

Each of the facilities is under development and subject to approval by the State Corporation Commission before construction begins.

The solar projects proposed if approved will add less than 20-cents to the typical residential customer's bill and will be offset in part by fuel savings. These resources will aid Dominion Energy in meeting its obligations under the VCEA's mandatory renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which generally requires that 100% of its electricity sales in the Commonwealth be sourced from clean energy sources by 2045.