Virginia's First Large-Scale Solar Project Begins Planning Process

The first large-solar project in Virginia may appear in less than two years.

Dominion Virginia Power submitted an application Tuesday to build the Remington Solar Facility on about 125 acres of land in Fauquier County. The 20-megawatt project would have about 90,000 photovoltaic panels that could generate emission-free electricity for 5,000 homes.

“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,” Chairman, President, and CEO of Dominion Resources Thomas Farrell said in a news release.

The facility is expected to cost about $47 million, according to News Advance, which is about $2,350 per kilowatt. The charge for customers using the plant would begin Dec. 1.

If the Virginia State Corporation Commission approves the project it will be constructed near the Remington Power Station and open in October 2016.

“I want to thank Dominion for their commitment to solar energy development with a project that nearly doubles Virginia’s production of solar energy,” Governor Terry McAuliffe said. “I look forward to working with them to continue to expand renewable generation in Virginia and diversify the Commonwealth’s fuel mix.”

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