Dominion Energy Partner With Virginia

Richmond, Virginia leans into renewable energy. (Flickr)

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D-VA) unveiled the largest state renewable energy contract in the history of the United States with Dominion Energy, which will supply the Commonwealth with 420 megawatts of solar and wind energy. The plan, released in a statement by Dominion Energy on October 18, would extract 75 megawatts of wind energy from Apex Clean Energy and 345 megawatts from proposed solar projects scheduled to begin production over the next three years.

The partnership comes approximately one month after Northam signed Executive Order 43 establishing ambitious goals for Virginia to produce 100 percent carbon dioxide-free energy by 2050. The partnership guarantees that the state will be able to meet one of the executive order’s clauses, which calls for Virginia to be 30 percent renewable energy by 2030. The new changes represent a shift from long run trends in the state. According to the American Wind Energy Association, Virginia was one of nine states in the country that had no operating wind energy projects at the end of 2018.

The agreement also follows Dominion’s new stance on zero carbon energy. The company recently announced its commitment to reducing carbon emissions produced by power-generating-facilities carbon emissions by 55 percent from 2005 levels and reducing methane emissions by 50 percent from 2010 levels by 2030. Dominion made steps to honor its word earlier this March as the company closed 10 gas and coal-fired power units in Virginia.

Earlier this week, Dominion Energy claimed that when combined with previous solar projects, “the power produced is enough to meet the equivalent of 45 percent of the state government’s annual energy use.” The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that the contract would provide enough electricity to power 105,000 households, while also generating jobs and stable incomes for families living in counties where energy production will occur. Apex Clean Energy predicted that installing the turbines could power up to 21,000 homes, create 250 new jobs, and provide Virginia and Botetourt county with $20 to 25 million in tax revenue over the project’s lifespan.

In a public statement, Northam cited this change as an example of “how states can step up to combat climate change and advance a clean energy economy.” Thomas Farrell, Dominion Energy’s chairman, president, and CEO, stated that he “supports Governor Northam’s goal for a cleaner energy future here in Virginia.”

Aside from this renewable energy contract, Northam has previously taken steps to enact environmental reforms in Virginia, from approving four separate solar projects that would bring in 192 megawatts earlier this month to dedicating $20 million to electric school buses in September. Virginia’s plan of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 seems more plausible each step forward.