A new solar array project is set to transform 37 acres of the closed I-95 landfill into a productive site for renewable energy. Scheduled for completion in Spring 2026, this initiative will convert previously unusable space into a resource that benefits all residents. The project traces its origins back to 2020 with the enactment of the Solar Freedom Act, which encourages renewable energy use and allows both residents and businesses to purchase electricity from sources like solar energy.
As development progressed, the county formalized a Power Purchase Agreement with Madison Energy Infrastructure. Under this agreement, the county compensates Madison for energy produced over a 30-year term. Dominion Energy then credits county accounts for the energy supplied by Madison to the grid through virtual net metering.
The energy generated by this project will be credited virtually to various county energy accounts, selected strategically to maximize savings. This arrangement could save the county $12 million over three decades and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 136,000 metric tons during the same period.
In addition to this project, other solar initiatives are underway by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES). In 2024, DPWES unveiled a rooftop solar system at Newington Solid Waste Facility in Lorton and completed another installation on the roof at I-66 Transfer Station. A solar array is also under construction on the administrative building at I-95 Landfill Complex.
The groundbreaking event for the I-95 Solar Array project took place on June 18 against a backdrop of solid waste vehicles with a single solar panel on display.
