Nearby solar array aims to go online by end of 2017


The Kentuck Solar project, Virginia’s largest municipal utility solar farm, will begin construction in August in eastern Pittsylvania County, marking the latest renewable energy venture in Southside Virginia.

The Kentuck project is a six-megawatt solar array that will be part of the generation mix for Danville Municipal Utility. When operational, the solar farm will generate enough electricity to power over 900 homes. Gov. Terry McAuliffe made the announcement of the project last week during a roundtable discussion with local officials and stakeholders as part of his Clean Energy Jobs Tour.

“The clean energy industry holds great potential for economic development in all parts of Virginia, especially areas like Southside that have struggled with job growth as core industries have declined,” said McAuliffe. “I am pleased to see the leadership that Danville Municipal Utility is taking to provide its customers with more renewable energy that is cost competitive with fossil fuels. The City of Danville is taking the lead on this issue in Virginia and I am hopeful other communities will follow its example and reap the economic and community benefits that come from increased use of renewable energy.”

The project represents an estimated $10 million-plus investment and will power up to 1.5 percent of Danville Municipal Utility’s power needs once operational. The array will be located between Dan River Middle, Kentuck Elementary and Dan River High schools in Pittsylvania County. Completion is expected by the end of the year.

The Danville Municipal Utility serves 42,000 homes and businesses in Danville, Pittsylvania County and small portions of Halifax and Henry counties.

The Kentuck Solar project may become the first industrial-scale solar farm to be completed in the immediate Virginia area. A proposed 70 megawatt solar farm has been permitted in Mecklenburg County in the Chase City area; the county is considering granting a permit for a second 80-watt solar installation that also would be located near Chase City.

The permitted project, by Carolina Solar, will take up some 322 acres. The timetable for completion is late 2018 or early 2019. Carolina Solar also has built arrays in Person and Vance counties in North Carolina, and company officials have indicated their interest in expanding into Halifax County.

State officials touted solar energy’s potential during McAuliffe’s visit to Danville last week.

“Working with private and public sector partners to increase solar energy production in Virginia is a key priority of this administration,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore, who is from Pittsylvania County. “Almost 200 megawatts of solar have been installed in Virginia since 2014 and solar jobs have increased 65 percent over the last year, making the Commonwealth one of the fastest growing solar job markets in the country. I am proud that my home region is embracing the renewable energy industry.”

The developers of the Danville Municipal Utility project are Sol Systems and Turning Point Energy, which was represented at the roundtable discussion by Jared Schoch, a principal at the company.

“We have developed the project, purchased the real estate, cleared the way for construction, and selected Sol Systems as the solar project investor and builder to deliver on this commitment to provide solar energy to the City and our new neighbors and community, including Dan River Elementary, Middle and High Schools,” said Schoch.

“This project brings more than $10 million of investment and will boost demand for local goods and services over several months during construction,” noted George Ashton, President of Sol Systems. “This is the first of many utility-scale solar project investments for us in Virginia, and we believe the local community and partners in Danville are a model of what can be accomplished by working together.”

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