Video courtesy of Sun Tribe Solar
From Virginia Beach to Powhatan County and up to Dulles Town Center, advanced energy projects are popping up across Virginia, bringing with them installation and maintenance jobs, new revenue from state and local taxes, energy cost savings for ratepayers, and even student and jobs training programs.
Projects from Apex Clean Energy, EVgo, and Sun Tribe Solar highlight the various economic benefits of wind and solar power and expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure. These are just a few of the many projects spurred on by the Virginia Clean Economy Act enacted July 1, 2020. State policy along with national efforts can work in concert to accelerate our transition to secure, clean, and affordable energy resources.
Read the success stories to learn about what advanced energy is doing for communities across the Commonwealth and how lawmakers can support more projects like these:
Read the success stories to learn about what advanced energy is doing for communities across the Commonwealth and how lawmakers can support more projects like these:
Once the Drive Electric Virginia network is complete, approximately 95% of all Virginians will be within 30 miles of an EV charger, making zero-emission transportation and mobility more accessible for citizens across the state.
When the project was unveiled in 2018, former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe boasted, “Clean energy is one of the fastest growing industries in the Commonwealth... Projects like these are creating jobs of the future that will help grow local economies and create a better quality of life for families.”
The solar power generated at the three county buildings is expected to save local taxpayers $456,000 and the county $3.5 million over the course of the project’s 25-year life span, lowering the tax burden for county residents.
Hailing from Virginia, developer Sun Tribe Solar employs several PCPS alumni, including the project’s manager, who was able to show students, first-hand, the possibilities of a career in clean energy.
The energy cost savings from the solar energy will help the school district save a staggering $4.2 million over 30 years, with no up-front or ongoing maintenance costs affiliated with the project.
Revenue from the Rocky Forge Wind project is expected to provide $20 to 25 million in state and local taxes for local schools, government, and landowners (via leasing fees) over the course of 30 years, creating an entirely new long-term revenue source for the community.
This series features projects from EVgo and Virginia-based companies Apex Clean Energy and Sun Tribe Solar.
