Dominion expands Amazon solar energy program

Richmond-based Dominion Resources plans to expand its solar alliance with Amazon Web Services Inc., adding 180 megawatts of generating capacity in five Virginia counties.

Construction of the facilities will involve long-term power purchase agreements between a Dominion subsidiary, Dominion Energy Inc., and an affiliate of Amazon's cloud computing business, AWS.

he solar facilities are expected to begin operation in late 2017.

The new facilities will expand Dominion's solar fleet in eight states to 1,400 megawatts by 2017, including 434 megawatts in North Carolina and Virginia.

Dominion is acquiring four 20-megawatt projects from Virginia Solar LLC. Dominion will develop these facilities in Buckingham, New Kent, Powhatan and Sussex counties for AWS. An engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract has been signed with Strata Solar for the projects.

Dominion is also acquiring a 100-megawatt development from Community Energy Solar and will develop it in Southampton County. Signal Energy will serve as the EPC contractor. Dominion will own and operate all five facilities as part of the Amazon Solar Farm U.S. East portfolio.

In late October, an 80-megawatt solar facility in Accomack County – also included in the Dominion-Amazon alliance – began operation. It is the largest operating solar farm in the mid-Atlantic region and was developed by Community Energy Solar.

The 260 megawatts of solar capacity resulting from the alliance between Dominion and AWS would produce enough electricity to power 65,000 typical homes and businesses.