Dominion proposes new solar, storage projects

Dominion Energy Virginia has proposed 23 new solar and energy storage projects that could power more than 200,000 Virginia homes at peak output.

The utility provider proposed the projects in its third annual clean energy filing with the Virginia State Corporation Commission on Friday. If approved, they will provide more than 800 megawatts of carbon-free electricity.

“These projects are another big step in delivering clean, affordable and reliable energy to our customers,” Dominion Energy Virginia President Ed Baine said in a statement. “The clean energy transition is bringing jobs and economic opportunity to communities across Virginia, and it’s reducing fuel costs for our customers. That’s a win-win for our customers and the communities we serve.”

The proposal has 10 solar and energy storage projects that total nearly 500 megawatts. Dominion Energy Virginia would own and operate the projects.

Dominion Energy also proposed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with 13 solar and energy storage projects owned by independent developers, totaling more than 300 megawatts.

The proposed utility-scale solar projects are:

• Bridleton Solar, Henrico County, acquired from Vega Renewables LLC
• Cerulean Solar, Richmond County, to be acquired from Strata Clean Energy
• Courthouse Solar, Charlotte County, acquired from NOVI Energy
• King’s Creek Solar, York County, acquired from KDC Solar Virginia
• Moon Corner Solar, Richmond County, developed by Dominion Energy Virginia
• North Ridge Solar, Powhatan County, acquired from North Ridge Powhatan Solar LLC
• Southern Virginia Solar, Pittsylvania County, acquired from Strata Clean Energy

The two distributed solar projects are:

• Ivy Landfill Solar, Albemarle County, to be acquired from Community Power Group
• Racefield Solar, James City County, acquired from Hexagon

The last project is a utility-scale energy storage project in Sussex County, Shands Storage, which Dominion acquired from East Point Energy.

Dominion estimates that construction on the projects would support nearly 4,800 jobs and generate more than $920 million in economic benefits across the state. The projects are subject to SCC approval and would then require local and state permits before construction started. If approved, Dominion expects the projects to be finished between 2023 and 2025. The projects would add about $0.38 to the average residential customer’s monthly bill, according to the filing.

Dominion Energy Inc. is also preparing for infrastructure work of its $9.8 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind farm project to begin in 2023. When complete, the project will have 176 turbines — each rising 800 feet above the ocean — 27 miles off the Virginia Beach coast. The company already has two pilot turbines in place.

Under the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act, Dominion must generate 100% of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2045. Dominion has also set a goal to reach net-zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions by 2050. Two of the projects — King’s Creek Solar and Ivy Solar — would be built on brownfield sites, which would help Dominion meet another of the act’s requirements: that at least 200 megawatts of solar be on brownfield sites.

Richmond-based electricity and natural gas provider Dominion Energy Inc. has about 7 million customers in 15 states. Its Virginia division has about 2.7 million customers in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.