Dominion Energy has acquired the 62.5-MWac Madison Solar generating facility in Orange County, Virginia, from Cypress Creek Renewables. The project, which will be owned by Dominion Energy’s contracted assets arm and which has received all applicable state and local permits, is expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2022.
Falls Church-based Northrop Grumman, an aerospace and defense technology company, will take the electricity generated at Madison Solar as well as the renewable energy credits, under long-term agreements. Northrop Grumman anticipates that the facility will provide enough renewable power to the grid to match 100% of its Virginia manufacturing and office operations’ electricity use.
“Northrop Grumman has a long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reductions,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, VP of global corporate responsibility, Northrop Grumman. “As we look beyond our 2020 goals, this project will play an important role in the next generation of our climate-related commitments.”
As part of the Virginia Clean Economy Act’s requirement for zero-carbon electricity by 2045, over the next 15 years Dominion Energy plans to add about 16,000 MW of solar generating capacity through company-owned projects and power purchase agreements signed with third-party developers in Virginia.
“If we can help our customers — both large and small — add more renewables and provide cleaner electricity,” said Robert Blue, Dominion’s executive VP and co-chief operating officer. “That’s a win for our customers and the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
It has also met its stated 2018 goal of bringing online, beginning development on, or signing contracts for 3,000 MW of solar and wind generating capacity in Virginia by the beginning of 2022. The company’s solar portfolio was recently ranked third by S&P Global Market Intelligence among utility holding companies in the United States.
“Our mission of powering a sustainable future one project at a time drives us to create valuable partnerships and projects,” said Cassidy DeLine, VP of project finance, Cypress Creek Renewables. “Our collaboration with Dominion and Northrop Grumman on the Madison project reinforces our commitment to developing solar in the nation’s largest wholesale electricity market, PJM and delivering long-term benefits for Orange County, Virginia”
About 660 acres of land along State Route 20 in Locust Grove are being purchased to site the solar development. More than 7 million customers in 20 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy, headquartered in Richmond.
