Dominion Energy is constructing a 62.5-watt solar facility on a 663-acre site just five miles southwest of Lake of the Woods.
The Lake of the Woods Democratic Club has invited a representative of the company to explain and answer questions about the project at its monthly meeting February 9 in Classroom 2 at the LOW Community Center. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. with a meet-and-greet session, and the program will commence at 1:30 p.m.
Sarah Marshall, external affairs manager for Dominion Energy, will discuss the project, called Madison Solar, the first utility-scale solar project in Orange County.
Construction at the facility, located off Route 20 near Locust Grove Primary School, began in August 2021. It is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year.
About 200 workers will be employed in erecting framework, installing solar panels, doing environmental monitoring and electrical work during the construction phase. After the project begins operation, very few employees will remain on site.
Dominion Energy has estimated that the project will generate about $200,000 per year in direct benefit to Orange County through taxes, according to a company spokesman.
When in operation, the Madison Solar plant is expected to supply 62.5 megawatts of electricity, which will be used by Northrop Grumman Corp., of Falls Church, a defense technology contractor, to meet its renewable energy goals.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a special use permit for the project in December 2017 for SolUnesco, a company based in Reston, Virginia. One year later, SolUnesco sold the undeveloped project to Cypress Creek Renewables, a California-based company. Dominion Energy acquired the project in August 2021 as part of a bid to expand its clean energy portfolio. Dominion currently has about 20 solar projects either completed or under construction in Virginia.
Marshall has been with Dominion’s external affairs department for six years and its manager since January 2021. She is a graduate of James Madison University and holds a master of public administration degree from Clemson University. She lives in Madison County.
The meeting will be open to the public without regard to political affiliation. Face coverings and social distancing will be required for safety.