Virginia

The largest planned solar power plant east of the Rocky Mountains at 500 MW-AC has signed PPAs for all of its planned production with Microsoft, the University of Richmond, and a consortium of businesses including Apple.

The company has reached a deal with local developer Urban Grid to acquire two upcoming projects, which, when complete, should be the largest in the state of Virginia.

Virginia regulators have approved construction of the four part solar power plant, whose output is partially being sold to Microsoft. The 500 MW-AC facility is being developed by sPower.

The racking and tracker maker has secured eight additional manufacturing lines, including in six Southeast states.

The results of a 2021/2022 auction saw an additional 964 MW of utility-scale solar projects bidding in to supply capacity, suggesting a boom in solar.

The state’s Corporation Commission has argued that the program as designed would give Dominion “extraordinary discretion” in setting rates.

The power giant is planning to contract with 760 MW of third-party solar projects by 2020, as well as building 240 MW of solar by 2021 – but also to build new gas plants and keep its nuclear reactors running for unheard-of timelines.

A new report sheds light on primarily states, primarily in the sunbelt, that dampen (or drown) rooftop solar through bad policies, or none at all.

The court has sided against Dominion in a ruling that makes it easier for large energy consumers to sign up for 100% renewable energy options from alternative suppliers.

The company is billing the contract with a portion of a 500 MW project as the largest corporate solar power purchase agreement (PPA) to date.