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None of the solar projects will start on time. That’s true for three of Dominion’s solar operations in Charlotte County, due to a transmission problem. As a result, that’s going to change deadlines and delay some expected payments. 

The issue stems from transmission lines. Each grouping of states has what’s known as a regional transmission organization. They review construction plans, they study to make sure the infrastructure is in place to handle the energy being generated and that a developer isn’t trying to build something larger than possible.

And then, if necessary, they hold up or order construction suspended, give requirements to companies, to make sure everything works. For Virginia and 12 other states around DC, that group is PJM. PJM commissioned a study recently, looking at the regional projects that are expected to use an existing 115 KV transmission line in Charlotte County to send the electricity these solar farms generate elsewhere. And the answer was a simple “no”. That 115 KV line isn’t strong enough for County Line Solar, Tall Pines Solar or Courthouse Solar to use.

Explaining transmission lines 

Transmission lines are used to transmit electrical energy over long distances and are typically overhead, consisting of one or more conductors suspended by towers or poles. These lines are generally the lowest-cost method for power transmission for large quantities of electric energy due to good cooling and insulation provided by the surrounding air. They are categorized by voltage levels. Low voltage (LV) lines carry less than 1000 Volts, medium voltage (MV) lines range from 1000 Volts to 69 kV, high voltage (HV) lines range from 115 kV to 138 kV. Basically, the regional authority has ruled that Dominion’s projects wouldn’t be able to use a high voltage line. Instead, the company has to build a bigger one. 

So what does that mean? Dominion is being ordered to build a new transmission line running through Charlotte County, a 230 KV line. That work won’t start until this coming September. And it won’t be a quick construction either. Current estimates say it may take up to four years to finish that project. The line hasn’t been designed yet, right-of-way hasn’t been purchased yet and so even that September start date is questionable. 

That’s led to several changes for Charlotte County projects. 

What’s the impact of solar pause? 

The first change comes from Courthouse Solar. This is set to be built on 1,354 acres just southwest of Charlotte Court House, on 12 parcels owned by Blue Rock Resources, LLC, Ridgeway Farm LLC, and Robert Locke. Dominion acquired the project from NOVI Energy and now plans a 167 megawatt facility. 

If you want more detailed directions than just “southwest of Charlotte Court House,” the project is bound to the north by George Washington Highway (Route 40), to the west by Tollhouse Highway (Route 47), to the east by Eureka School Road and to the south by Ash Camp Creek. 

Over a 35-year lifespan, the solar project is expected to generate $15.073 million in property taxes and revenue sharing. The site prep work will still start this year, however after that, Dominion estimates the project could sit idle for two to three years until the 230 KV line is ready. 

Also impacted will be Tall Pines Solar. NOVI Energy built this one as well before turning it over to Dominion. This would be a 220 megawatt project located in the area of Welsch Tract Road and Bethlehem Road near Charlotte Court House. The project would be going up on just more than 2,000 acres of land, owned by four different groups, with an estimated 530,000 solar modules. Due to the transmission line issue, Dominion now expects this project to be finished by 2030 or 2031. 

And finally there is County Line Solar. Now this project was on the verge of flipping the switch, with Dominion having placed it in the “queue” to get final transmission approval by PJM. But due to the ruling, County Line has since been pulled from the queue and it’s unclear as yet when it’ll be allowed to turn on and start generating energy.