July 12 (Renewables Now) - Authorities in Virginia have granted a conditional use permit to an 800-MW solar project in Charlotte County proposed by local developer SolUnesco, set to create the largest photovoltaic (PV) farm in the US state.

The green light for the Randolph Solar Project was given last week by the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors. According to local news source SoVaNOW, the permit was awarded as part of an agreement between county officials and US utility Dominion Energy (D:NYSE), which plans to purchase the solar farm from SolUnesco once it is completed.

The next step for SolUnesco is to secure approval from the State Corporations Commission, which the company expects to seek as early as 2024. Before applying, it will have to conduct environmental impact studies and develop site, soil and erosion control plans. Project engineer Adam Thomspon has told the media that field development will take between 12 and 18 months.

Set to be installed across a site of 21,000 acres, the PV project is estimated to require an investment of some USD 1.5 billion (EUR 1.48bn), its website shows. Construction works are slated to begin in the second quarter of 2025.

Once up and running, the Randolph park is expected to generate electricity for more than 129,600 homes per year, with its operation seen to bring USD 311 million in revenues for Charlotte County over its 35-year lifespan.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.990)

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