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Happy Friday!
May 30, 2025
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The Energy Right team attended meetings in Gloucester as well as Southampton this week, visiting with a couple more counties along the way on our mission for clean energy the Right Way.
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Preserving the Landscape
& Blueprints for Solar
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Rural roads in Southampton County, VA
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Strict solar ordinances are often painted as barriers—but in places like Southampton County, Virginia, they’re better understood as blueprints. Here, the message to developers isn’t “no,” it’s “get it right.” The county has put in place one of the most comprehensive solar ordinances in the state, demanding careful siting, strong environmental protections, and compatibility with agricultural and rural landscapes. And while the path to approval is narrow, it’s navigable for developers who are willing to put in the work.
Southampton’s approach offers a model for how counties can shape energy development on their own terms. Rather than fast-tracking projects that ignore local values, the ordinance functions like a filter, allowing in only those proposals that meet clearly defined standards. This process isn’t about saying yes or no to solar; it’s about making sure solar, when it comes, reflects the long-term vision of the community. Developers who embrace this clarity have a real opportunity to build partnerships alongside projects.
The reward for that extra effort is more than just permits. Well-planned solar projects in Southampton can generate reliable tax revenue, support dual-use agriculture like sheep grazing, and contribute to grid resilience—all without overwhelming rural roads or altering the county’s character. It’s a reminder that clean energy doesn’t have to come at the expense of local identity. In fact, with the right guardrails, it can help strengthen it.
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Sheep of the Week
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Another day grazing under the panels for this flock of sheep. With plenty of feed and places to rest in the shade, life is good!
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Follow Us
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Wind and Solar Overtake Coal and Nuclear in U.S. Power Generation
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For the first time in U.S. history, wind and solar together have outproduced both coal and nuclear in the first quarter of 2025, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It’s a milestone that marks not only a shift in numbers but signals a foundational turning point in how we power the country. As cleaner technologies surpass legacy systems in both cost and performance, the path forward becomes clearer: modernizing our energy infrastructure is more about strategy than anything.
America’s future competitiveness, grid stability, and national security will depend on accelerating investment in next-generation energy solutions. That includes not just solar and wind, but also battery storage, geothermal, and advanced nuclear. These technologies offer the flexibility and resilience needed to meet rising demand while strengthening domestic supply chains and insulating the U.S. from global energy volatility.
An “all-of-the-above” strategy can and should live up to its name. That means making space for proven traditional resources while actively funding the breakthroughs that will define the next era. America’s energy legacy was built on innovation and bold bets—now’s the time to place the next one.
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This week our team went to Gloucester, Henrico, Lunenburg, and Southampton counties.
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Southampton County, VA
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On Tuesday night, the Energy Right team attended a public information session in Southampton County where a 20mw solar project is hoping to be developed. Many of the residents in attendance asked great questions to the developers about community benefits, safety, and environmental impacts, which all lead to a more knowledgeable community and informed decisions being made.
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Virginia’s Reston Town Center Connects 1.3-MW Solar Canopy Array
– Energy Tech
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Ameresco has brought a 1.3 MW solar canopy into full operation atop a parking garage at Reston Town Center, developed in partnership with BXP. Designed as a behind-the-meter system, the project will generate approximately 1.5 million kWh of clean electricity annually—cutting energy costs and reducing grid dependence in one of Northern Virginia’s most high-traffic commercial hubs.
Located just outside Washington, DC, Reston Town Center serves as a key business and tech corridor, including proximity to major data center infrastructure. BXP views this solar installation as a cornerstone of the development’s next chapter, highlighting the value of integrating renewable energy into dense urban and mixed-use spaces.
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NEXT WEEK
We’ll be traveling to Essex, Lunenburg, Powhatan and Spotsylvania counties next!
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New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration confirms a record-breaking Q1 for renewables, with wind and solar generating more electricity than coal and nuclear combined. In March alone, solar set a new high—producing nearly 10% of U.S. power—while renewables overall reached 31.9% of total generation, just shy of natural gas. With rapid year-over-year growth and strong federal forecasts ahead, America’s energy mix is shifting faster than ever
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