Dominion Energy’s newest large-scale solar facility, Winterberry Solar, became operational Nov. 28 and stretches across 343 acres in Gloucester. The energy company also opened Norge Solar, a 224-acre large-scale solar farm, in James City County on Nov. 30.
Tim Eberly, spokesperson for Dominion, said that opening two solar farms within days of each other is something that would have been uncommon five to 10 years ago.
“A decade ago, it would be unheard of to have two new Dominion Energy solar facilities go online within days of one another,” said Eberly. “But this is a testament to how committed we are to solar energy and growing our solar fleet. We’re developing these solar facilities all over Virginia.”
At peak output, Winterberry can generate enough electricity to power 5,000 homes. The farm is a 20-megawatt facility (one megawatt is able to power approximately 250 homes). Winterberry is expected to generate about $55,000 in tax revenue for Gloucester annually. Norge can also power 5,000 homes at peak output and is expected to generate about $32,000 in local tax revenue for James City County.
Dominion acquired the Winterberry project in September 2021 from Strata Solar. It has also taken on Camellia Solar, which is planned to be operational in early 2024.
“It’s a proliferation of solar farms right now,” said Eberly.
Dominion has the second-largest solar fleet in the nation with more than 30 solar farms in Virginia and about two dozen in various stages of development. Altogether, its solar facilities can generate enough energy to power more than 550,000 homes at peak output.
These solar farm projects are part of Dominion’s mission to become a “cleaner and greener power company,” according to Eberly. Dominion is required to produce electricity from completely renewable sources by 2045 under the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
“Each solar facility makes us a cleaner and greener company and gets us one step closer to our clean energy goals,” he said. “And that’s something all Virginians can be happy about—renewable and carbon-free electricity for the commonwealth’s residents.”
In addition to solar farms, Dominion has started developing offshore wind farms as a way to produce renewable energy.