New Dominion Energy long-range plan increases projected solar growth

Dominion Energy Virginia filed its new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Tuesday with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), which included solar fleet expansions of approximately 4,720 megawatts (MW) of capacity within the next 15 years.

This represents an approximately 50 percent increase over the 3,200 MW forecast presented last year.

The IRP also calls for new high-efficiency natural gas-fired power stations and extending the operating lives of the state’s four nuclear units.

“Dominion Energy Virginia remains committed to its longstanding goal of responsible operations; a diverse, balanced generation fleet that avoids over-reliance on a single fuel type or technology; and providing reliable and affordable energy to its customers,” Paul Koonce, CEO of Dominion Energy Power Generation Group, said. “These goals guided development of the 2018 Plan and will guide the company in the future.”

The plan offers five alternatives that consider compliance with state or federal regulations, including a proposed state cap on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and a potential link to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) being implemented in the Northeast.

Every scenario in the IRP includes implementation of energy efficiency programs that could reduce peak demand for energy from the company’s system by 304 MW by 2033 and overall annual energy usage by 805 gigawatt-hours.

The plan does not yet reflect Virginia’s Grid Transformation and Security Act of 2018, which will become law on July 1.The company will address the associated expansion of energy conservation programming in future filings with the SCC and the reports and stakeholder processes required by law.

The IRP also includes the potential retirement of older, less-efficient coal, oil, and natural gas technology within the next three to four years. Earlier this year, the company announced it would place several power stations in cold storage reserve by the end of the year.

All generation retirements presented in the Alternative Plans are considered tentative.