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HAPPY FRIDAY
September 13, 2024
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Welcome to Energy Right’s weekly roundup! This week our team went to half a dozen different counties
on our mission for Clean Energy the Right Way.
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SOLAR INITIATIVES IN FLUVANNA SETBACKS—OR ROADBLOCKS?
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Fluvanna County, Public Hearing
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Energy Right took part in the Fluvanna County public hearing on their proposed solar ordinance this week! We were proud to be joined by several residents who stood up in support of responsible and reasonable solar policies. The key issue discussed was the overly restrictive setbacks that are proposed at twice, four times, and even ten times the norm in Virginia. We believe solar projects should be reasonably setback from property lines, neighbors, and wetlands, and finding a balance that is reasonable while not entirely prohibitive is important to landowners, neighbors, and the community who will benefit from clean energy investments to power the grid.
Solar Grazer Matt English stole the show with his impassioned comments about his growing farming operation on a solar site in Appomattox County. Matt grazes his flock “under panel” of the 80 acres of solar farm that are tucked away from the view of passersby. The seventh-generation farmer remarked, “I’ve always handled sheep since I was a child… Under panel, we had our best lamb crop ever—we had a 222% average. That means every one of them on the solar site had twins or triplets. No singles. When you’re in the farming business as tight as money is now, that’s money.”
While we agree with policy that encourages environmental and agricultural conservation, we also believe these setbacks should be a part of the plan, not a roadblock to it. It is abundantly clear that solar energy is not only compatible with agriculture, but enhanced by agriculture and vice versa. Matt’s growing business and his healthy, happy flock of sheep are living proof of the safety, durability, and effectiveness of solar grazing. “I wouldn’t take the crops and livestock that I’ve raised genetically and put all my savings in and dump them in harm’s way. We’ve been there for a little over a year and have had zero issues.”
This is Clean Energy the Right Way!
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Virginia’s Coal Legacy Transforms
From Mines to Solar Farms
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Virginia was once the energy powerhouse of the East Coast due to its extensive coal mining operations. As these mines dwindled and shut down, the question arose: what do we do with the abandoned sites? One promising solution has been converting these former mines into renewable energy hubs. The Nature Conservancy, an NGO, has led efforts to transform several of these sites into solar energy operations that now contribute to the power grid. These projects are among the first of their kind, showing how land that might otherwise remain unused can be repurposed. This approach revitalizes former economic hubs into future-focused
energy solutions.
The Nature Conservancy has worked with solar developers like Dominion Energy and Sun Tribe to bring these projects to life. Former coal sites are well-suited for solar development due to their flat terrain and exposure to sunlight. Repurposing this land supports Virginia’s push toward renewable energy, offering both economic and environmental benefits. The shift from coal to solar is not just about clean energy—it’s about revitalizing areas impacted by the decline of fossil fuels and turning them into productive, sustainable assets.
These projects also address the environmental implications left by mining. Daniel Kestner from the Virginia Department of Energy explains, “In the coalfield region, there are about 100,000 acres impacted by mining… better to build on these sites than prime farmland or areas that may resist solar.” By repurposing damaged land for solar infrastructure, Virginia is healing its landscape while advancing renewable energy. This strategy honors the state’s history while embracing a cleaner, more sustainable future.
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This week, our team travelled to:
Fluvanna, Franklin, Lee, Nottoway, Prince Edward, Rockbridge, Suffolk, and Sussex counties.
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Lunenburg County
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Along our travels this week, Energy Right team member Dylan Taylor was in Lunenburg County
among other places, snapping this photo of the area. From rolling hills to historic downtowns, we love all the places our mission for clean energy takes us.
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During visit to Spotsylvania solar farm, Kaine not sheepish about desire for clean energy in Commonwealth
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The Spotsylvania Solar Energy Center, spanning over 6,300 acres, is now one of the largest solar projects on the East Coast. During a recent visit from Sen. Tim Kaine, it was clear the project is more than just solar panels—it also includes 1,600 sheep as part of an agrivoltaics system, which combines renewable energy production with livestock grazing. This partnership supports local farmers and helps maintain the land under and around the panels.
Generating 617 megawatts of electricity, the center powers major companies like Microsoft and Amazon. The project also contributes to local agricultural education through partnerships with Future Farmers of America. With Virginia now ranking among the top states for solar energy, this site is an example of how land can be used both efficiently and sustainably for energy and farming.
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NEXT WEEK
We’ll be going to Botetourt, Brunswick, Greensville, Lunenburg, Roanoke, and Scott counties.
Have a great weekend!
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“U.S. power consumption is on track to rise to new records in 2024 and 2025, the U.S. Energy
Information Administration (EIA) said in its Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) on Tuesday.
“With growing power demand from data centers, manufacturing and the electrification of transportation and buildings, the EIA projected power demand will rise to 4,101 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2024 and 4,185 billion kWh in 2025.”
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