On average, 1 megawatt of solar energy can
provide 190 homes with electrical power, according
to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
The newly announced solar projects will consist
of the following:
- Danville Farm, which is being developed in
Pittsylvania County by Strata Solar Development
and will generate 12 megawatts of electricity. - Dragonfly Solar, which is being developed
in Campbell County by Apex Clean Energy
Holdings and will generate 80 megawatts
of electricity. - Grasshopper Solar Project, which is being
developed in Mecklenburg County by Dominion
Energy Services and will generate 80 megawatts
of electricity. - Turner Solar, which is being developed in
Henrico County by Cypress Creek Renewables
and will generate 20 megawatts of electricity.
“Over the last five years, Virginia has seen
a dramatic increase in installed solar
developments,” DEQ Director David Paylor stated
in a press release. “As of August this year, there
are nearly a dozen small projects in Virginia
producing 357 megawatts, enough to power
more than 86,000 homes.”
Last month, Northam issued Executive Order
43, which calls for 100% of Virginia’s electricity
to come from carbon-free sources by 2050. The
executive order also calls for 30% of the state’s
electricity to be powered by renewable energy
resources by 2030. In 2018, 7% of Virginia’s
electricity was generated from renewable
energy sources, according to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration.