Philip Morris USA (PM USA), an Altria company, is the latest company to partner with Dominion Virginia Power under the Solar Partnership Program by hosting what will become the largest solar installation in Virginia to date.

Dominion is currently installing about 8,000 ground-mounted solar panels at the PM USA Park 500 facility on Bermuda Hundred Road in Chesterfield County. When completed, the 2,450 kW solar array will generate enough electricity under optimum conditions to power 500 homes. Standard Solar, Inc. has been selected as the EPC company. Most of the work will be performed by local subcontractors.

"PM USA understands the effect that nature may have on our business, which is why we continue our efforts to reduce environmental impacts at our manufacturing facilities," said Greg Ray, PM USA senior vice president for smokeable manufacturing. "We are proud to host this solar project at our Park 500 plant, as it is adjacent to our award-winning on-site water treatment plant installed in 2008. These combined facilities will offer a real-world laboratory to showcase how manufacturing operations can work to reduce environmental impact and protect our vital natural resources."

Dominion Virginia Power already has completed solar installations at the Canon Industrial Resource Technologies facility in Gloucester, Old Dominion University in Norfolk, and Virginia Union University and Capital One in Richmond. These facilities and others under construction represent a total of 4.8 MW of solar generating capacity.

The PM USA solar project is part of Dominion Virginia Power's Solar Partnership Program in which Dominion leases rooftop or ground space at commercial, industrial or public facilities for the installation of solar panels. The program is designed to expand Dominion's understanding of community-based solar energy by studying its impact and assessing its benefits while supporting and encouraging solar energy growth in Virginia. The energy generated by the solar panels is delivered to the power grid. Dominion is authorized to construct and operate up to 30 MW of company-owned solar facilities, enough to power up to 7,500 homes.