Mineral Gap Data Centers’ proposed solar energy farm in Wise, Va., has been named one of the 10 projects selected for grant approval from the state’s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) pilot program.
The program is administered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and funded by the Federal Power Plus Pilot Program. Each project includes the reclamation of a historic mining site.
The solar energy project is slated to receive a pilot grant of $500,000 from the $10 million in federal grant money Virginia received to develop AML sites (pending final review by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement). The grant will help accelerate the development of what Mineral Gap Data Centers envisions as a solar farm generating up to 3.5 MW of renewable power.
“Mineral Gap Data Centers is proud to be part of this initiative to bring solar power to southwestern Virginia and grow green energy into a long-term economic opportunity for the people and businesses of this region,” says Marc Silverstein, spokesperson for Mineral Gap Data Centers. “We see this as the opening act for solar power and renewables in Wise County and all of southwestern Virginia.”
The planned solar farm, built by Sun Tribe Solar, will provide clean power for the data center and thus relieve demand on the surrounding electrical grid.
“At Sun Tribe, we’re focused on renewable energy innovation which will ensure that as communities throughout Virginia look to build 21st century economies, solar is going to play a critical role in powering the future,” says Taylor Brown, chief technical officer of Sun Tribe Solar.
