DEPCOM Power, Apex Clean Energy, and Liberty Power work together to spread solar energy throughout the state of Virginia as passed the new Virginia Clean Economy Act. The purpose of this act and these companies is to promote the local economy and meet the goal of 100% clean energy by 2050.
DEPCOM Power plans to oversee engineering and construction on the 113MW plant that Apex Clean Energy has developed. Liberty Power will be distributing this large amount of power being created from this solar project that will cover 720 acres of land near Lynch Station in Virginia.
This construction process will create nearly 300 jobs, which the company intends to give to local unemployed and US veterans. The project is also expected to be finished by the end of this year and generating grid energy. DEPCOM also adopted a ‘Buy American’ motto in which they are aiming to meet an 80% rate of the utility solar spending to be invested in domestic sourcing.
Over the course of the 35 years, this plant will be active for, it will generate more than $1.8 million in local tax revenue. On many fronts, Depcom is working to support their local area and help with the economic situation. It has lately been seen that companies who are contributing to ambitious local green energy goals are attempting to bring this change to the community as well.
This Altavista Solar project will become one of the first utility-scale solar plants in Campbell County, although this is the third solar plant that DEPCOM operates in Virginia. DEPCOM is a partner in utility-scale solar for all aspects of these solar services. They focus on cost-effective systems to reduce prices and raise efficiency for utility-scale solar.
Apex Clean Energy develops, constructs, and operates utility-scale wind and solar power. They focus on the renewables industry across North America to further the clean energy initiative.
This project announcement is accompanied by the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which is a huge step towards clean energy in Virginia. This starts by setting a clean energy standard that requires Dominion and Appalachian Power to stop selling electricity that is generated from fossil fuels. Dominion aims to achieve this by 2045, while Appalachian aims to achieve this by 2050 with specific benchmarks to hit on the way.
The overall goal for the state of Virginia will be 100% clean energy by 2050 while contributing 16GW of renewable solar or wind energy. All of the coal power plants will also be closed by 2024.
“The Virginia Clean Economy Act will transform the Commonwealth’s economy, usher in a new age of energy deployment that will create a market for distributed generation like we’ve never seen before, and help turn back the tide against climate change.â€
Rachel Smucker; Virginia policy and development manager for the Maryland Delaware Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association
There will be fines for those who do not achieve these guidelines. To avoid these fines companies can also purchase “Solar Renewable Credits†that are based on how much energy their rooftop solar systems produce. Many other states are making bills similar to this, making all of these territories an ideal place for solar. This is the thirtieth state to sign a bill similar to this, and Virginia is 18th for installed solar capacity in the US at 893MW of power.
