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Happy Friday!
September 5th, 2025
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This week, the Energy Right team was out in Charlottesville for the special screening of Pastures and Panels, as well as in Hampton Roads for a roundtable!
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The Hampton Roads Roundtable
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Last week, Energy Right joined a roundtable discussion in Hampton Roads with Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, Virginia Department of Energy Director Glenn Davis, and local leaders to talk about the future of energy in the Commonwealth. The conversation centered on Virginia’s unprecedented demand growth and the importance of advancing an all-of-the-above energy strategy that can be deployed quickly. In Hampton Roads, where naval and air bases require vast amounts of electricity to keep our country safe, energy security is national security. Congresswoman Kiggans sees the direct connection between new in-state energy development and Virginia’s ability to remain both economically competitive and strategically secure.
During the discussion, Energy Right shared with the Congresswoman the progress already made in adding gigawatts of new capacity across Virginia in recent years. These developments strengthen grid reliability, create jobs, generate local revenue, and keep energy dollars in Virginia. Still, the roundtable made clear that the pace of deployment needs to accelerate. Out-of-state imports are growing, and without swift action to advance projects already in the queue, Virginia risks higher costs and reduced control over its energy future.
We are grateful for Congresswoman Kiggans’ engagement and continued support, as well as the leadership shown by Director Davis and local partners. Ensuring that Virginia meets rising demand will require cooperation across all levels of government, industry, and community leadership. By celebrating clean energy wins while also advancing pragmatic solutions like modern gas and nuclear, Virginia can chart a balanced path forward. Energy Right remains committed to supporting this effort—working with landowners, policymakers, and industry leaders to secure reliable, affordable, and independent power for the Commonwealth.
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Buzz of the Week
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Hollyfield Solar Farm, VA
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A closeup view of the slats the bees use for creating the honeycombs. These ones are loaded up in a crate and onto a truck, where it will eventually be taken for processing and sale!
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Follow Us
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In partnership with the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA), Energy Right hosted a screening of Pastures and Panels: The Power of Solar Grazing in Charlottesville on September 3rd, drawing solar developers, academics, elected officials, as well as engaged members of Virginia’s Piedmont region. The event celebrated the growing momentum behind agrivoltaics—a land-use model where agriculture and solar energy are used alongside one another.
The film shows how sheep grazing beneath solar arrays is helping farmers reduce maintenance costs, regenerate soil, and reclaim their livelihoods. Following the screening, a panel discussion featuring two Virginia-based solar grazers and a representative from Farm-to-Power brought the concept to life. They shared personal stories, community impact, and a vision for how solar grazing can preserve farmland and empower rural economies for generations to come.
The discussion touched on how sheep are emerging as quiet disruptors at the intersection of clean energy and agriculture. Their gentle grazing supports solar efficiency while restoring ecological balance—offering a regenerative, low-impact solution that benefits both farmers and developers. Agrivoltaics is a simple solution with far-reaching impacts to the question about land use.
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Our team travelled to Carroll, Charlottesville/Albemarle, King George, and Westmoreland counties on our mission for energy done the Right Way.
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On September 2nd, the Energy Right team attended a BOS meeting in Halifax County where a 5MW solar project was being voted on. More than 150 people came out for the vote and another handful gave public comment in support of the project. After nearly an hour of discussion, the project passed 5-2. These community scale projects directly impact and help the local community, providing instant energy assistance during times of demand.
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Virginia eyes nuclear to power booming data centers
– Virginia Business
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Virginia’s role as the world’s data center hub is straining its grid, driving officials to look beyond wind and solar toward advanced nuclear technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) and even fusion. Governor Glenn Youngkin has made clean baseload power central to his “all-of-the-above” energy plan, tying it directly to economic growth and national security.
But the risks are clear. SMRs remain costly, unproven at scale, and years away from commercial deployment, raising concerns they cannot meet near-term demand. In the meantime, Virginia must rely on natural gas and continued renewable expansion to bridge the gap. The debate exposes a critical challenge: balancing ambition with pragmatism as the state charts its energy future in the AI era.
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NEXT WEEK
We’ll be traveling to Carroll, King George, and Surry counties and more!
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Wise County’s Wildcats Solar marks the start of The Nature Conservancy’s effort to transform old coalfields into clean energy hubs, with 500+ MW planned to power 85,000 homes and deliver millions in tax and community benefits. But new federal law H.R.1 threatens progress by slashing solar incentives, risking project cancellations, higher bills for Virginians, and lost rural economic opportunities.
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