Solar Development on Reclaimed Mining Sites: A Former Mining Geologist Weighs In

By |2023-01-04T15:07:44-05:00December 15th, 2022|Land Use, Landowners, Uncategorized, Virginia Solar|

There’s been a lot of buzz around solar development on reclaimed mining sites—which usually qualify as brownfields—since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August of 2022. In Virginia, at least, that interest pre-dates the IRA, and at least two projects on former coal mining sites were announced prior to August 2022. SolUnesco has been exploring post-coal mining solar opportunities in Virginia for some time, and that, coupled with my own geotechnical mining experience, might offer a unique perspective

Are solar projects cost competitive with traditional energy sources?

By |2021-05-12T10:40:21-04:00May 12th, 2021|Uncategorized, Virginia Solar|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team Despite the relative newness of solar energy deployment as a major source of electricity generation in the United States, solar is now cost competitive with conventional sources of electricity that have long powered our economy. Increased demand for solar energy alongside rapid improvements in technology have led to a 90% decrease in the cost per megawatt hour of energy generated by solar since 2009. [1] This decrease in cost alongside efforts by large corporate

Coexistence of solar with area wildlife

By |2021-05-05T12:53:07-04:00May 5th, 2021|Uncategorized|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team With development projects of any size, the impact on existing wildlife habitats must be taken into consideration during planning, permitting and project construction. Unlike some developments that result in longstanding buildings or damage to a property, solar projects can coexist with existing wildlife habitats and preserve the rural nature of a site for the project’s lifespan. Any wetlands, bottomlands, or tributaries on the project site will remain untouched, and wildlife corridors are created between

Will I See the Solar Panels?

By |2021-03-30T09:27:33-04:00March 30th, 2021|Uncategorized|

By The Randolph Solar Development Team This is one of the top questions that we receive – Will I be able to see the solar panels? When the SolUnesco team was evaluating sites for the project, this is one of the concerns that was taken into consideration. SolUnesco has developed a plan that will greatly minimize the visibility of the solar panels. The site chosen for Randolph Solar is located in an area of Charlotte County with gently rolling hills.

MDV-SEIA Tesla Raffle

By |2015-05-29T17:05:04-04:00May 29th, 2015|Uncategorized|

Hello all, I don’t often solicit through emails for donations (I think this is the 3rd time in 20 years) but I feel this is a worthy cause, not just for the industry that I represent (solar), but for our future and the future of our children.  The Maryland-DC-Delaware-Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association (MDV-SEIA) is a non-profit trade association that advocates on behalf of its members (solar businesses, environmental organizations, private citizens) to open the market for solar energy in

The Anacostia Waterfront Initiative

By |2018-08-10T12:50:31-04:00September 1st, 2013|Uncategorized|

All too often during my 26 years in the roofing and waterproofing business I have seen the commercial real estate and construction industries at odds with environmental activism.  LEED certification and increased emphasis on sustainable design has definitely eased this adversarial relationship, but to a large extent, for right or wrong it still does persist.  There are moments during our careers, however, when we find that not only do occasionally opposing forces have the same agenda, but should certainly work

Go to Top