RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion
Virginia Power filed an application
with the Virginia State Corporation Commission today to build
Virginia's first large-scale solar facility. The 20-megawatt
project would be built on approximately 125 acres of land owned by
the company near the Remington Power Station in Fauquier County.
The facility would contain approximately 90,000 photovoltaic
panels and at peak capacity would generate enough electricity to
provide power for 5,000 homes. The estimated in-service date for
the facility is October 2016.
"The Remington Solar Facility marks the beginning of an exciting
process with large scale solar technology that adds emission-free
generation in the Commonwealth," said Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and
chief executive officer of Dominion Resources. "Increasing our use
of solar energy is part of that plan, and renewable energy will
play an increasingly important role in Virginia's
future. Dominion has diversified the type of fuels it uses to
generate electricity with more use of natural gas and biomass
generation."
"I want to thank Dominion for their commitment to solar energy
development with a project that nearly doubles Virginia's
production of solar energy," said Gov. Terry McAuliffe. "I look forward to working with
them to continue to expand renewable generation in Virginia and diversify the Commonwealth's fuel
mix."
Dominion has extensive expertise in constructing and operating a
large, diversified generation portfolio, which includes 344
megawatts of solar generating capacity in development, under
construction or in operation across six states. A key benefit of
the Remington Solar Facility is that Dominion can leverage this
experience to successfully integrate utility scale solar generation
to serve Virginia's energy needs.
For more information on Dominion's solar projects, visit
dom.com/solar.
In a separate application filed today with the Virginia State
Corporation Commission, Dominion is seeking approval of a Community
Solar pilot in Virginia. This
pilot program, initiated by policy recommendations from several
Virginia legislators, will allow customers to voluntarily purchase
solar energy output from a Virginia-based 2-megawatt Dominion solar
facility.
"I am pleased to have worked with Dominion Virginia Power to
make solar an option for residents who live in condominiums or
homes that have excessive tree cover and are impractical for solar
installations," said Del. Scott
Surovell, D-Fairfax. "This pilot will make
emissions-free energy a reality for hundreds of customers who want
that choice, but otherwise could not have it."
Del. David E. Yancey,
R-Newport News said, "Increasing
solar power in Virginia is good
for the environment and I applaud Dominion Virginia Power for its
willingness to take this step in the Commonwealth."
Other Virginia lawmakers who have voiced bipartisan support for
expanding solar projects in Virginia include Dels. Joseph R. Yost, R-Pearisburg; Marcus
Simon, D-Fairfax; and
Rob K. Krupicka, Jr., D-
Alexandria.
Dominion (NYSE: D) is one of the nation's largest producers and
transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 24,600
megawatts of generation, 10,900 miles of natural gas transmission,
gathering and storage pipeline and 6,455 miles of electric
transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's
largest natural gas storage systems with 949 billion cubic feet of
storage capacity and serves utility and retail energy customers in
11 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's
website at www.dom.com.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dominion-virginia-power-planning-commonwealth-of-virginias-first-large-scale-solar-project-300023109.html
SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power