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Happy Friday!
August 29, 2025
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This week, the Energy Right team was on-location for community outreach, as well as working with two different upcoming events we hope you all will enjoy!
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PJM Energy Demands Interconnection
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PJM, the nation’s largest grid operator, is at the center of America’s growing energy challenge. Demand is soaring due to the rapid rise of data centers, advanced manufacturing, and electrification. Yet more than 150 gigawatts of solar, wind, and storage projects remain stuck in PJM’s interconnection queue. These resources could strengthen energy security and stabilize costs, but outdated approval processes have left critical generation stranded on paper rather than serving communities.
The consequences of delay are real. Families and businesses across PJM’s footprint are facing higher electricity bills, and utilities are under pressure to keep pace with record load growth. Unlocking already-proposed projects is the fastest way to add affordable, reliable supply. A recent UC Berkeley study points to a solution: reusing existing interconnection points to fast-track more than 100 GW of solar and 24 GW of storage. This approach could deliver power within one to two years, far quicker than building new transmission alone.
If PJM is serious about meeting demand and protecting ratepayers, procedural reforms must become a priority. Clearing the interconnection backlog and embracing innovative siting strategies would give states like Virginia the clean, low-cost power they urgently need. The path towards grid security can’t be about waiting for new resources to be imagined—it should be aimed at putting shovel-ready projects to work now, ensuring energy reliability and affordability for millions.
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The VA Clean Energy Summit
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The 2025 VA Clean Energy Summit is set for September 30th-Oct 1st! Last year the summit held a fantastic forum for all things clean energy related, and with energy being a more important topic now than ever, we know this year’s will be an excellent platform for industry leaders, community representatives and community members to come together. Registration for the event closes September 19th, and you can register for the event here.
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Follow Us
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Pastures and Panels: The Power of Solar Grazing Premiere comes to Charlottesville
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We also want to highlight another event happening next week, and one that is especially important to us considering all the folks we’ve met who practice agrivoltaics and who are directly involved in such work!
On Wednesday, September 3rd, Charlottesville will host a special event highlighting the growing practice of solar grazing and the new opportunities it creates at the intersection of agriculture and clean energy. The evening will begin with the premiere of Pastures and Panels: The Power of Solar Grazing, a documentary produced by the American Solar Grazing Association. The film introduces audiences to the innovative work of farmers and grazers who are using sheep to maintain vegetation under solar panels, showing how this approach benefits both land management and farm viability.
By integrating sheep into solar projects, developers can avoid the use of heavy machinery or chemicals to control grass and weeds, while farmers gain access to new grazing land and income opportunities. This practice helps preserve farmland, reduces operating costs for solar companies, and ensures that rural communities share in the benefits of the clean energy transition. It’s a modern twist on a traditional practice, where livestock once again play a role in shaping the future of the countryside.
Following the screening, attendees will hear directly from Virginia grazers who are leading the way in this field. Among the panelists is Ben from Farm-to-Power, an organization dedicated to connecting farmers and solar developers in ways that strengthen both industries. Ben brings a dynamic perspective to the conversation, having worked closely with landowners who are looking to keep their farms profitable while contributing to America’s energy future. His work emphasizes that farmers—the backbone of the nation’s history—can once again be at the center of powering communities, this time through clean and sustainable energy solutions.
The evening will conclude with a reception, where guests can enjoy food, drinks, and informal conversation. This gathering will bring together community members, local leaders, and state officials, creating a space for dialogue, networking, and collaboration.
With limited space available, those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP.
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Our team visited with James City/Williamsburg, as well as Norfolk this week.
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On Wednesday, the Energy Right team attended the Power Talk: Virginia’s Energy Priorities event at the World Trade Center in Norfolk, featuring Congresswoman Jen Kiggans and Virginia Department of Energy Director Glen Davis.
Congresswoman Kiggans highlighted her role as Vice Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, which is rebranding as the Conservative Energy Caucus. She emphasized the Department of Defense’s energy priorities, while also voicing support for renewable projects across Virginia—including Dominion’s offshore wind partnership with the U.S. Navy at Naval Air Station Oceana.
Director Davis closed the discussion by presenting key statistics on Virginia’s energy landscape. He pointed to stagnating energy output following the 2020 passage of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), stressing the need for repeal or significant reform. He also noted progress in piloting small modular reactors in areas such as Chesterfield. Most notably, Davis underscored ongoing challenges within the PJM interconnection queue, where an estimated 53,000 MW of projects are awaiting approval, yet only about 5% are expected to come online.
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PJM could fast-track 102 GW solar, 24 GW storage at underused points of interconnection
– PV Magazine
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A new UC Berkeley working paper finds PJM could unlock 102 GW of solar and 24 GW of storage within just one to two years by reusing existing interconnection points from underutilized fossil and renewable plants. This strategy bypasses PJM’s congested queues and avoids waiting 5–7 years for new transmission to be built.
The researchers warn PJM faces a 25 GW shortfall by 2030, driven largely by soaring data center demand. Shared interconnection could fill that gap far faster than building new gas plants, which would not come online until the next decade. PJM has begun incremental reforms, but the study shows far greater potential if surplus capacity is fully leveraged.
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NEXT WEEK
We’ll be traveling through Campbell County and Westmoreland County and more!
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Google announced plans to build a major data center in Chesterfield County as part of its $9 billion Virginia investment through 2026, alongside expansions in Loudoun and Prince William. Governor Glenn Youngkin praised the projects for bringing jobs, tax revenue, and economic growth, while emphasizing that local leaders—not Richmond—should decide siting.
Google said Chesterfield was chosen for its infrastructure, available land, and strong community partnerships. The company is in the pre-construction phase, with an average buildout of 18 to 24 months. While job numbers and timelines have not been released, officials highlighted the broader economic ripple effect that typically accompanies data center development.
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