Northrop Grumman enters solar deal with Dominion Energy

Falls Church-based Fortune 500 defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. is contracting with Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. to purchase solar energy to offset 100% of Northrop Grumman’s manufacturing and office operations in the commonwealth. The power will be generated from the 62.5-megawatt Madison Solar generating facility in Orange County, which Dominion announced it has acquired from Cypress Creek Renewables for an undisclosed amount.

Northrop Grumman has entered into a long-term contract with Dominion to purchase the electricity generated by the solar plant as well as the renewable energy credits from the facility.

“Northrop Grumman has a long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reductions,” Sandra Evers-Manly, Northrop Grumman vice president of global corporate responsibility, said in a statement. “As we look beyond our 2020 goals, this project will play an important role in the next generation of our climate-related commitments.”

Dominion has committed to producing 3,000 megawatts of electricity from solar and wind energy in operation or under development by 2022, and is working on similar projects across the state. On Jan. 29, Dominion made public its partnership with Amazon.com Inc. to build a solar plant in Pittsylvania County, which is set to power one-third of the county’s operations and the e-commerce giant’s forthcoming headquarters in Arlington. 

For the Madison Solar project, approximately 660 acres of land along State Route 20 in Locust Grove are being purchased to house the solar development.

“Our mission of powering a sustainable future one project at a time drives us to create valuable partnerships and projects,” Cassidy DeLine, Cypress Creek Renewables vice president of project finance, said in a statement. “Our collaboration with Dominion and Northrop Grumman on the Madison project reinforces our commitment to developing solar in the nation’s largest wholesale electricity market, PJM, and delivering long-term benefits for Orange County.” 

As part of the Virginia Clean Economy Act’s requirement for zero-carbon electricity by 2045, Dominion plans to add approximately 16,000 megawatts of solar generating capacity through company-owned projects and power purchase agreements over the next 15 years.

“If we can help our customers — both large and small — add more renewables and provide cleaner electricity, that’s a win for our customers and the commonwealth of Virginia,” Robert M. “Bob” Blue, Dominion’s executive vice president and co-chief operating officer, said in a statement. (Blue will become Dominion’s president and CEO as of Oct. 1.)

The energy company has more than 7 million customers in 18 states and has more than $100 billion in assets.

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