Virginia Archives - SolUnesco

Answering Your Neighbor’s Questions: Solar is Safe, Quiet, and Low-Impact

By Lea Maamari|2025-06-20T16:41:34-04:00December 15th, 2020|Land Use, Virginia Solar|

Answering Your Questions (And your neighbors' too!) We in the solar industry receive many questions about a solar facility’s components, how Utility-Scale solar will impact the surrounding communities, and what effects solar equipment technology might have on the environment. Today, we’re bringing you answers from the latest research on solar technology, installation processes, operations, and more. Bottom line, solar is one of the safest, if not the safest, technologies producing electricity and as a land use results in an inconsequential impact. Solar was first deployed by the US over sixty years ago. Research on solar technology is second to none. Is solar equipment safe?

Major Economic Impacts of Solar

By Lea Maamari|2025-06-20T16:35:23-04:00February 20th, 2020|Industry, Policy, Virginia Solar|

Mangum Economic's New Report Richmond-based Mangum Economics has just released an in-depth analysis of the the fiscal impact of utility-scale solar facilities over projects’ 35-year lifetime. The detailed report examines factors driving solar development and how Virginia localities are impacted. The surge in solar interest is notably reflected in the rise in megawatt hours generated. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, solar facilities across the U.S. increased from 0.9 million megawatt hours in 2008 to 63.8 million megawatt hours

SHINE Continues to Prepare the Next Generation

By Lea Maamari|2025-06-20T16:39:17-04:00December 20th, 2019|Company Update, Construction, Industry, Virginia Solar, Workforce Development|

SHINE Continues to be Great Since 2018, The Solar Hands-on Instructional Network of Excellence (SHINE) has worked with Southside Virginia Community College and solar developers like SolUnesco to educate, train, and secure jobs for a new generation of solar workers. As Virginia commits legislatively to meeting ambitious renewable energy goals, and corporations like Microsoft are making major solar purchases in the state, SHINE remains committed to growing solar within the state and advocating for local hiring. Education and Training Through

Local Governments: What You Need to Know about Solar

By Lea Maamari|2025-06-20T15:50:59-04:00July 9th, 2019|Company Update, Industry, Policy, Virginia Solar|

The Opportunity At the 2019 SolSmart Virginia Local Government Solar Procurement Meeting on June 17, Francis Hodsoll joined five other presenters for a workshop focused on learning, sharing, and discussing solar procurement opportunities for local governments. Topics included green tariffs, non-utility procurement options, the market dynamics and the drivers of solar generation’s extraordinary growth, and examples of successful local government procurement. In his presentation, Hodsoll spoke to local governments eager to learn about the Virginia solar energy market, opportunities to explore sustainable practices like procuring clean energy, and sustainable energy procurement options. The following

Our State Legislature’s Role in a Clean Energy Future

By Lea Maamari|2025-06-20T13:02:12-04:00May 29th, 2019|Company Update, Industry, Land Use, Policy, Virginia Solar|

Tom Tom Summit and Festival This April, SolUnesco CEO, Francis Hodsoll, moderated and presented on a panel at the Tom Tom Summit and Festival in Charlottesville. This annual event brings together a diverse group of thought leaders to discuss a revitalized approach to civic life and community, and this year devoted an entire day to renewable energy. Hodsoll and three co-panelists, Chip Dicks, Will Reisinger, and Rachel Smucker, explored how Virginia legislators impact the adoption of clean energy technologies and

Challenges and Opportunities in Virginia’s Solar Energy

Company Update, Industry, Land Use, Virginia Solar

Challenges and Opportunities in Virginia’s Solar Energy

By Lea Maamari|2025-06-28T12:27:59-04:00October 2nd, 2018|Company Update, Industry, Land Use, Virginia Solar|

This past week, SolUnesco’s CEO, participated in a session entitled “The Rubin Group: Lessons from Virginia at Solar Power International. During the session, Hodsoll discussed how Virginia has rapidly become a clean energy state. In addition, Hodsoll discussed the challenges and opportunities that still exist for solar energy development in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia’s Painfully Slow Start Francis outlined three key interrelated challenges that the industry is facing: Inertia: Virginia is inhibited by an outdated regulatory system that was

Helping Middle School Students Explore Solar Technology at Locust Grove Middle School

Charitable Giving, Company Update, News, Virginia Solar

Helping Middle School Students Explore Solar Technology at Locust Grove Middle School

By Francis Hodsoll|2025-06-18T16:00:53-04:00June 7th, 2018|Charitable Giving, Company Update, News, Virginia Solar|

Giving Back At SolUnesco, “community” is one of our core values, and we make it a goal to give back to the communities in which we operate. As such, we were thrilled to recently support the learning of solar concepts at Locust Grove Middle School. The school is located just down the street from the Madison Solar Farm, a proposed 400-acre, 60-MW solar farm, on which SolUnesco worked to get zoning approval from the County last year. On May 29,

Realizing the Economic Benefits of Solar: The Virginia Solar Workforce Initiative

Construction, Industry, News, Southeast, Virginia Solar

Realizing the Economic Benefits of Solar: The Virginia Solar Workforce Initiative

By Lea Maamari|2025-06-18T15:54:56-04:00June 6th, 2018|Construction, Industry, News, Southeast, Virginia Solar|

Solar is Growing in the US More and more companies have made the commitment to purchase renewable energy as part of their sustainable business strategies. Large enterprises such as Microsoft, Kohl’s, Apple, The North Face are powered by solar, while Google, Marriott, McDonald’s and a majority of the Fortune 100 consider access to renewable energy as part of their investment decisions. Numerous companies have established their operations in locations where they can access solar power. What does this mean for

Solar Industry’s Richmond Legislative Meet and Greet

Industry, Policy, Virginia Solar

Solar Industry’s Richmond Legislative Meet and Greet

By SolUMarketing|2025-06-18T15:22:51-04:00February 5th, 2018|Industry, Policy, Virginia Solar|

Virginia Legislators Meet Solar Last Tuesday, the Solar Industry’s regional association (MD, DC, DE & VA Solar Energy Industry Association - MDV-SEIA) hosted a Meet and Greet at the Virginia Credit Union League in Richmond, VA. The event provided opportunities for Virginia legislators to get to know the local solar industry and learn more about solar energy legislation that we supported. The event highlighted several Bills which were the result of a two-year mediated process called the Rubin Solar Workgroup[1].

Local Permitting: Impact on Solar

Land Use, Virginia Solar

Local Permitting: Impact on Solar

By Francis Hodsoll|2025-06-18T16:16:03-04:00January 29th, 2018|Land Use, Virginia Solar|

Solar Sprawl? For nearly a decade, my business partner and I have devoted our hearts and considerable time to developing a sustainable solar energy market in Virginia. However, the local permitting process poses a significant risk to the long-term viability of the market. In this companion piece to the previous blog post on our successful permitting experience in Orange County, Virginia, we offer our perspectives on local permitting and the concerns typically raised by local communities. We hope we can