Virginia approves 800MW of solar & storage projects

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has approved nearly two dozen new solar and energy storage projects.

Once in operation, the projects will generate more than 800MW of carbon-free electricity, enough to power about 200,000 Virginia homes at peak output.

The projects are expected to deliver more than $250 million in fuel savings for customers during their first ten years of operation, a statement said.

The SCC approval includes nine solar projects and one energy storage project –totalling nearly 500 MW – that will be owned and operated by Dominion Energy Virginia. Two of the projects – Kings Creek Solar and Ivy Landfill Solar – will be built on previously developed land. Ivy Landfill Solar will be the company's first solar project developed on a former landfill. The SCC also approved power purchase agreements (PPAs) with 13 solar and energy storage projects – totalling more than 300 MW – that are owned by independent developers.

Construction of the projects is projected to support “thousands of jobs” and more than $920 million in economic benefits across Virginia, the statement said.

‍