VAMLIS GeoCon 2024

As of January 2021, Virginia has deployed more than 1,500 megawatts (MWac) of utility-scale solar generation capacity, with thousands of additional megawatts of generating capacity under construction and planned for development in the coming years. Continued growth is anticipated because of Virginia’s aggressive renewable portfolio standards in addition to recent technological improvements and declining system costs. However, an emerging concern regarding the widespread development of utility-scale solar facilities is its potentially significant land use. While solar energy has become an important component of land use considerations in many rural communities across the Commonwealth, there is very little information available that comprehensively evaluates the existing land use impacts and development trends of solar facilities.

A study was conducted in 2021 to investigate the spatial characteristics of existing utility-scale solar facilities in Virginia using GIS techniques. In June 2024, the Virginia Department of Energy contracted with VCU Wilder School and Life Sciences to update and expand the analysis. The data and analysis provided in the studies characterize the impacts of utility-scale solar facilities and clarify some of the uncertainties related to their recent development in Virginia. Quantifying and summarizing the characteristics of the areas impacted by solar facilities provides a foundation for supporting the sustainable development of future solar energy facilities. Clearly understanding the existing conditions and trends of solar development in Virginia today will help to inform better land use practices tomorrow.