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Happy Friday!
June 6, 2025
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The Energy Right team was in Spotsylvania County attending a landowner’s workshop revolving around solar implementations, as well as a few other counties to see how energy can make an impact, the Right Way.
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Bite Size Steps in Spotsylvania Integrating Solar & Farming
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Local Spotsylvania farmer Thomas Roberson of Botanical Bites & Provisions, LLC, spoke candidly about how solar technology has become a core part of his 10-acre operation—from powering electric fencing to running water systems and managing heat in high tunnels during the summer.
Roberson emphasized the direct benefits he’s seen: lower operating costs, fewer fuel concerns, and a more stable setup overall. “Solar has helped our farm stay profitable and efficient thanks to a working partnership with REC and solar being a fuel-free source of energy,” he said. For small-scale producers like Roberson, solar isn’t replacing farming, it’s supporting it. His remarks reflect a growing recognition among agricultural communities that solar integration can be tailored to farm-specific needs, offering energy independence while minimizing reliance on volatile fuel prices. With the right infrastructure and partnerships, it becomes a dependable piece of the farm’s long-term planning.
The broader message from the workshop was clear: solar has a role to play in agriculture, but success depends on thoughtful design and placement. Events like this one help landowners explore clean energy on their own terms—answering questions, offering real-world examples, and connecting farmers to technical resources. For rural communities weighing their options, these conversations can be a starting point for long-term stability.
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Sheep of the Week
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A mother sheep grazes with her lambs in tow—the solar panels and grass providing an ample environment for the herd. Agrivoltaics, or the dual-usage of land for agriculture and solar energy, is becoming more recognized as a viable option for farmers and the land.
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Wind and Solar Overtake Coal and Nuclear in U.S. Power Generation
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Floatovoltaics—solar panels installed on floating platforms—are being devised as a new energy solution that could address both land-use pressures and water management. Originally developed in response to limited land availability, these systems are now proving valuable beyond their initial intent. Floating solar arrays are typically deployed on reservoirs, stormwater ponds, and hydroelectric basins, where they benefit from cooler temperatures that improve efficiency while also helping reduce water evaporation and suppressing algae blooms.
In Virginia, the case for floatovoltaics is particularly compelling. With a network of inland water bodies, man-made reservoirs, and utility-adjacent retention ponds, the state has the physical footprint to support meaningful FPV deployment without sacrificing farmland or forested acreage. The potential to collocate with existing water infrastructure—such as near hydroelectric plants or water treatment facilities—offers a way to optimize grid access while advancing Chesapeake Bay conservation goals. This dual-function approach supports Virginia’s clean energy targets without further complicating land-use debates in a climate where energy dependence is proving to be more and more important.
While FPVs come with technical challenges like higher upfront costs and engineering complexity, their benefits align well with Virginia’s energy and environmental priorities. As the state pushes to add more megawatts without increasing development pressure on rural landowners, floatovoltaics present a unique option in the broader strategy to build a resilient, diversified grid. Like other emerging technologies, their value will hinge on smart siting, public trust, and cross-sector collaboration alongside technological advances.
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This week our team went to Essex, Lunenburg, Powhatan, and Spotsylvania counties.
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Spotsylvania County
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Monday night, the Energy Right team attended a solar landowners workshop in Spotsylvania County. The workshop was hosted by Virginia State University’s Small Farm Outreach Program and was presented by local farmer Thomas Roberson. The Roberson farm utilizes solar to help cut costs on their farming operations, while embracing clean energy into their daily lives on the farm.
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Grid operator warns there’s a chance of a power shortage this summer. However, Congress wants to slow down the growth of our quickest source of new electricity.
– Cardinal News
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Virginia’s growing energy demand is colliding with a fragile grid. For the first time, PJM Interconnection has warned it may not have enough power this summer under extreme conditions—driven largely by explosive demands and data growth. The warning underscores a deeper issue: Virginia imports more power than any other state, much of it dirtier and more expensive. Meanwhile, solar—the fastest, most scalable solution—is being slowed by political resistance and local opposition.
Despite mandates for a carbon-free grid by 2050, the tools to meet that target are getting harder to deploy. Localities continue to greenlight energy-hungry data centers while blocking solar projects, and efforts in the General Assembly to accelerate solar have stalled. Nationally, proposed rollbacks of solar tax credits could undercut the one energy source capable of adding capacity quickly enough to meet urgent demand.
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NEXT WEEK
We’ll be traveling to Brunswick, Goochland, King and Queen, Lunenburg, and Southampton counties next time!
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Learn more about the ins-and-outs of flotovoltaics, their applications, strengths, and weaknesses in this article—properly informed communities, representatives, and project leaders can better address regional needs and find the best applications for solutions when weighing all the options, benefits, and costs.
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