The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved a considerable increase in new solar and energy storage projects for Dominion Energy Virginia customers on Tuesday. When completed, the projects will generate almost 1,000 megawatts of carbon-free electricity, enough to power about 250,000 Virginia households at full capacity.
The authorized expansion comprises 15 Dominion Energy Virginia projects as well as power purchase agreements (PPAs) with 24 other third-party developer projects. The 150-megawatt Walnut Solar project in King and Queen Counties and the 100-megawatt Dulles Solar project in Loudoun County are the two largest individual projects.
The projects are the second yearly batch of initiatives anticipated under the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act that requires that 16,100 megawatts of solar or wind energy projects be in existence or under construction by 2035. Dominion will reportedly propose projects of a comparable scope each year for the following 15 years.
Expectations for the Dominion Energy Solar Projects
The Dominion Energy Solar Projects will aid Dominion Energy, which serves around 7 million consumers in 13 states by supplying electricity or natural gas to their homes and businesses, in its goal to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions while also meeting its customers’ future energy demands.
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Speaking on the approval, Dominion Energy Virginia President Ed Baine said this is an important step in Virginia’s move to energy independence adding that thousands of decent jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity will be supported by these initiatives in communities across the state.
“This is a great step forward for our consumers, the environment, and the economy of Virginia as the construction of the 15 Dominion Energy Virginia projects will not only increase energy supply but also create more than US$ 880M in economic benefits and sustain approximately 4,200 jobs across the state,” explained Baine.
The projects are expected to be finished between 2022 and 2023.
