State approves four new solar farms

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued permits approving four new solar farms across Virginia, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday.

Expected to generate 192 megawatts of electricity, the four projects are:

• Danville Farm, a 12-megawatt facility in Pittsylvania County from Strata Solar Development
• Dragonfly Solar, an 80-megawatt installation in Campbell County to be developed by Apex Clean Energy Holdings
• Grasshopper Solar Project, an 80-megawatt farm solar developed by Dominion Energy Services in Mecklenburg County.
• Turner Solar, a 20-megwatt facility in Henrico County from Cypress Creek Renewables.

“Virginia is adopting solar technology at record rates, and we are building an economy that is cleaner and greener as a result,” Northam said in a press release. “These four projects will strengthen our solar energy infrastructure and help to sustainably power thousands of homes and businesses across Virginia. As the commonwealth shifts to renewable energy sources, we are also reducing our carbon footprint, expanding opportunities for economic development and attracting the clean energy jobs that we need today and for generations to come.”

Northam signed an executive order last month setting a goal for Virginia's electric power to be completely generated from carbon-free sources, including wind, solar and nuclear, by 2050.