Dominion Virginia Power plans to add more solar power to its generation portfolio, as the utility has partnered with SunEnergy1 to build a 20 MW solar farm in Chesapeake, Va.
North Carolina-based SunEnergy1 will lease a 250-acre site located off Ballahack Road and U.S. Highway 17 and install 91,803 solar panels. Dominion will buy the output of the facility from SunEnergy1, including energy, capacity and renewable energy credits, under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
“Our commitment to solar energy is an important part of the future of our state,” remarks Katheryn Curtis, Dominion’s senior vice president of power generation. “This partnership with SunEnergy1 is another significant step forward for Dominion as we plan for a low-carbon, balanced and diverse generation mix.”
Interestingly, Virginia native and stock car racing star Denny Hamlin is partnering with SunEnergy1 as an investor in the project through Hamlin’s Won One Energy company.
“I see this as a great opportunity to invest in the energy future of Virginia,” says Hamlin, a 26-time winner on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. “Solar is a fast-growing, renewable energy solution that is establishing a larger footprint across the energy industry. As a Virginian, I am proud of Dominion and SunEnergy1 for bringing utility-scale solar to the state.”
The Chesapeake solar farm will be a ground-mounted tracking PV system, and commercial operations are expected to begin later this year.
