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Happy Friday!
November 21, 2025
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This week, the Energy Right team toured a solar facility with sheep grazing, as well as attended
Planning Commissions in both Chesterfield and Prince Edward counties on our mission for energy, the Right Way.
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American Energy Leadership & The Need for Onshoring the Supply Chain
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American energy leadership depends on more than just producing power; it requires building the next generation of energy technologies here at home. First Solar is continuing to take major steps in that direction with its new $330 million investment in South Carolina, where a manufacturing plant is slated to begin operations in 2026 and create more than 600 local jobs. The facility will handle the final production stages of the company’s thin-film modules, reinforcing the role
American manufacturing plays in long-term energy competitiveness.
At the same time, First Solar is also opening a 2.4-million-square-foot facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana—the largest single investment in the parish’s history. Once fully operational, the plant will employ more than 700 people and produce solar modules built with American-made components. This expansion strengthens domestic supply chains, boosts the regional economy, and brings more of the solar manufacturing process onto U.S. soil at a moment when global competition is intensifying.
These investments are just one major component of the United States still racing to secure the clean-energy supply chains that will define the future. We already know international competitors—especially China—are moving quickly. Maintaining American energy leadership requires supporting domestic manufacturing, high-quality American jobs, and local clean-energy projects that anchor economic security at home. Expanding this kind of homegrown industrial capacity is how the U.S. ensures the next generation of energy technology is built for, and by, the American people.
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Sheep of the Week
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A flock of sheep grazing on a cloudy day out in the country—love to see agrivoltaics!
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Follow Us
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The Name’s Storage… Battery Storage
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The battery energy storage industry is advancing quickly, and real-world projects across the country are showing how these systems can strengthen the grid while saving money for consumers. In Chattanooga, the local municipal utility deployed a 2.5 MW / 10 MWh battery that kept nearly 400 customers powered for half an hour after a distribution line unexpectedly went offline. The incident offered a clear demonstration of how storage can act as a frontline resilience
tool, keeping the lights on even when traditional infrastructure experiences an interruption.
Virginia is experiencing similar momentum. Danville Utilities’ first battery system, a 10.5 MW project developed with Lightshift Energy, has already improved local grid stability and is projected to save residents roughly $40 million over the next two decades. A second Danville project is expected to expand peak-shaving benefits by discharging power during the most expensive hours of the day. Other communities, including Spotsylvania County and Smyth County, are moving forward with their own battery
installations designed to support grid reliability and reduce long-term energy costs.
Taken together, these projects reflect a broader national trend. Battery storage has become a practical and cost-effective tool for improving reliability, managing peak demand, and strengthening America’s overall energy security. Even when a line goes down, storage can help ensure that homes and businesses stay powered. As energy needs grow nationwide, expanding the use of battery storage will play a central role in delivering a more resilient and affordable energy future.
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Our team went to Chesterfield, Montgomery, Prince Edward, and Spotsylvania counties this week!
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On Tuesday night, the Energy Right team attended a Planning Commission in Chesterfield County to see
the unanimous recommendation of approval of a community scale project. The project had some amendments to expand the project to be roughly 8 total MWs. The developer noted an ongoing relationship with surrounding landowners to be as helpful and least impactful as possible during the construction and operation of the project. The project will be heard by the BOS at a later date for a final vote.
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Virginia Unveils Five-Year Strategic Plan to Lead Nation in Nuclear Energy Innovation
– Royal Examiner
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Virginia released its Nuclear 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, outlining a coordinated push to meet fast-rising electricity demand and strengthen the state’s leadership in nuclear energy. Developed by the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium and key state partners, the plan prioritizes expanding the nuclear workforce, advancing small modular reactors, building the Virginia Innovative Nuclear Hub, and attracting new manufacturing investment.
With nuclear already supplying 32% of Virginia’s electricity and over 80% of its carbon-free power, leaders say the roadmap is essential for reliability, economic growth, and national security as data centers, military sites, and hospitals drive major load increases across the Commonwealth.
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NEXT WEEK
We’ll be in Brunswick, Madison, and more!
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The International Energy Agency’s latest World Energy Outlook shows a critical truth: electricity
demand is set to outpace all other forms of energy growth, driven by data centers, EVs, and global electrification. While renewables—especially solar—will lead new generation, oil and gas are expected to remain part of the mix through 2050. The IEA calls for urgent investment in grid upgrades, battery storage, and diversified energy sources to meet surging demand without sacrificing affordability or security.
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