US utility group Dominion Energy has been given the thumbs up to add more than 800 MW of solar and energy storage capacity to serve its customers in Virginia.
Dominion Energy Virginia was granted approval by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), the utility said on Friday.
The plan includes nine solar and one energy storage project totalling nearly 500 MW, to be owned and operated by Dominion Energy Virginia, as well as more than 300 MW sourced through power purchase agreements (PPAs). The PPAs will come from 13 solar and energy storage projects chosen in a competitive solicitation.
At peak output, the projects are expected to be able to power more than 200,000 Virginia homes. The company estimates that their construction will support almost 4,800 jobs and provide more than USD 920 million (EUR 835.9m) in economic benefits across the state.
Details about the proposed utility-owned projects are available in the table. The construction of all of them is expected to be finalised by 2025.
As previously announced, Dominion Energy Virginia is behind the Moon Corner solar scheme, while the other ones will be acquired from their developers.
The projects are expected to add USD 0.38 to the average residential monthly bill but will cut over USD 250 million in fuel costs for customers in the first 10 years of operation.
