Dominion, which owns the nuclear power plant in Waterford, is teaming up with Virginia’s Halifax County to build a pilot demonstration facility for solar power, as reported by the Associated Press.
The Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County says the planned facility would generate about 4 megawatts of power and be the largest integrated solar-battery facility in Virginia.
Dominion plans to ask the State Corporation Commission for permission to build the facility. It estimates it will invest up to $27.9 million on the project.
If approved, the integrated solar and battery storage facility is expected to begin operating in 2012.
Officials say solar energy holds enormous potential in southside Virginia, but the challenge is integrating this variable resource in a reliable way on the electric grid.
