Solar project in Eastern Henrico gets green light from DEQ

An example of a solar facility constructed by Urban Grid Solar. (Courtesy Urban Grid Solar)

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a permit for Urban Grid Solar to construct and operate a new solar facility, Briel Farm Solar, LLC, on approximately 230 acres in Eastern Henrico County near Interstate 295. The 20 megawatt project will supply enough electricity to power more than 5,000 homes.

“The solar industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy and this announcement is a strong testament to the thriving solar energy marketplace in Virginia,” said Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. “My administration remains committed to supporting projects like this one that will bolster our solar energy infrastructure and bring low-cost, emissions-free electricity to homes and businesses across the Commonwealth.”

Renewable power like solar helps balance out the effects of toxins produced by carbon-based fuels. Urban Grid’s Briel Farm project is anticipated to offset the generation approximately 64,739,173 pounds of carbon dioxide, 43,978 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 51,091 pounds of sulfur dioxide.

“Virginia is making great strides in developing solar energy across the Commonwealth and this project is another example of this,” said Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Matt Strickler. “Governor Northam and I are committed to accelerating Virginia’s transition to a clean energy economy.”

This solar facility represents one of seven permits issued in 2018. During the past five years, Virginia has witness a dramatic increase in its installed solar capacity, growing from 17 MW in 2014 to more than 300 MW in 2018. DEQ has permitted 750 MW of renewable energy since 2015. Based upon the current number of notices received by the department for additional solar projects, Virginia’s total projected capacity for renewable energy is more than 3,400 MW.

“Urban Grid is excited to receive this critical regulatory permit and would like to thank all the agencies who collaborated on this permit, and we would specifically like to thank the individuals at these agencies that made this permit possible, therefore assisting Urban Grid in bringing utility scale solar to Henrico County,” said President of Urban Grid Frank DePew.