Social media giant Facebook signed a power purchase agreement on a 160-MWAC solar facility that will be built in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Chester solar will support Facebook’s data centers in the region, including the Henrico Data Center in Eastern Henrico County.
D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) and Torch Clean Energy are developing the project.
“The DESRI team is pleased to continue our strong relationship with Facebook, which, with the addition of Chester Solar, now totals over 650 MWAC of contracted and operational clean power projects across the country,” said Hy Martin, chief development officer of DESRI. “This project will create jobs, tax revenue, and other local economic development as Virginia becomes a national leader in the new energy economy. This facility is one of several renewable energy projects that our team has planned for large load centers in the PJM territory.”
The Chester Solar project will create about 200 jobs during construction. Once the project is operational, DESRI will establish and fund a clean energy scholarship program to help cultivate local workforce talent by supporting graduating seniors from local high schools that have an interest in Virginia’s growing clean energy economy.
“We are excited to partner with DESRI once again to bring new solar energy to the grid,” said Urvi Parekh, head of renewable energy at Facebook. “This project will help us continue to support our global operations with 100% renewable energy and bring new investment and jobs to the state of Virginia.”
