Members of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors joined with representatives from Dominion Energy, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and federal, state and local leaders Tuesday for the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Dulles Solar and Storage project at Dulles International Airport.
In December 2022, the Board adopted an amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance that rezoned airport property to allow for uses, such as solar generation facilities, in Planned Development-General Industry Zoning Districts. The Board also added solar facilities as a permitted by-right use for properties greater than 500 acres. The Dominion Energy project will be developed across 835 acres in the southwest corner of the airport property.
According to Dominion Energy, the Dulles Solar and Storage project is expected to generate up to 100 megawatts (MW) of solar energy and store up to 50 MW of power, making it the largest renewable energy project developed at a U.S. airport. It will provide enough energy to power more than 37,000 homes during their peak output. The energy generated will serve Dominion Energy customers in Virginia.
“I am pleased that Dominion is investing in alternative energy sources at such a large scale,” said Loudoun Board Chair Phyllis J. Randall. “As our Commonwealth, nation and world is grappling with extreme weather due to climate change, we know that investing in alternative, sustainable energy sources is the answer to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.”
Dominion Energy plans to develop two 1 MW solar carports that will partially power Dulles facilities, and provide 18 electric transit buses, 50 electric fleet vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations for Dulles operations.
Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2023 and is expected to be complete by late 2026.
The project received final approval earlier this year after an extensive, multi-year review by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration and Virginia State Corporation Commission, among other state and federal agencies.
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