Dominion Energy Virginia and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced Thursday they will jointly explore the development of a large-scale 100-megawatt solar energy project on approximately 1,200 acres at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Dominion Energy recently signed a sublease with the Airports Authority to begin feasibility studies for the project to move forward. Electricity generated from the solar project would connect to Dominion Energy’s existing transmission line located on Dulles International Airport property, delivering clean energy for residential and commercial customers.

A solar project of this size could power 25,000 homes at peak output and would be one of the largest solar facilities in Northern Virginia, providing clean energy to the most populous region of the state.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on this ambitious, renewable-energy project. More than 24 million passengers flying through Dulles each year will witness the sun’s energy being used to generate clean energy for Virginians,” said Keith Windle, vice president business development & merchant operations, Dominion Energy.
 
“Partnering with Dominion Energy on this important project will give us the data and tools we need to determine the role that solar energy can play at a major international airport now and in the future,” said Mike Stewart, airport manager, Dulles International Airport. “This project fits well with the Airports Authority’s goal of enhancing the sustainability and environmental performance of our facilities.”

On Sept. 18, 2019, Dominion Energy filed an application with PJM, the regional transmission organization that coordinates the electrical grid in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, to interconnect the project to the transmission grid. The new facility could come on line as early as 2023 and is supportive of Dominion Energy’s solar capital investment plan.  

This solar project would help meet Dominion Energy’s goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 55 percent by 2030.

This new solar project brings the company one-fourth of the way to its goal of having 3,000 megawatts of wind and solar in operation or under development by 2022.