FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va – A renewable energy solar project in the county, at its completion, will generate enough energy to power about 1,000 homes. Fairfax County will be the first locality in the Commonwealth to begin construction of a solar array on the grounds of a closed landfill.
The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, along with Madison Energy Infrastructure, will host a public groundbreaking for the 5-Megawatt Solar Array Project at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18, at the I-95 landfill at 9850 Furnace Road in Lorton. Parking is limited, DPWES will accommodate as many vehicles as possible.
"We are thrilled to see this project come to life after years of hard work and collaboration," said Eric Forbes, deputy director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Solid Waste Management Program. "This 5-megawatt solar facility is a testament to our community’s dedication to sustainability and innovation. We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners, Madison Energy Infrastructure, for spearheading the development, and Dominion Energy, for their invaluable support in integrating the solar power into the grid, and to our county leadership for their relentless advocacy for solar freedom and renewable energy initiatives."
The solar array covers 37 acres of closed landfill, converting previously unusable space into a project that benefits all county residents. The energy produced from the project will be credited virtually to other county energy accounts, which will be selected to maximize the cost savings to the county. The project could save the county $12 million dollars over the 30-year partnership and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 136,000 metric tons over the same period.
"This solar project represents a monumental step forward for Fairfax County's commitment to sustainability and renewable energy," said John Morrill, director of the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination. "As the largest solar installation in the county and the first on a closed landfill in Virginia, this project not only sets a precedent for innovative use of space but also promises significant cost savings and environmental benefits."
The concept for the project initially began in 2020 with the enactment of the Solar Freedom Act. The legislation focuses on renewable energy. It allows residents and businesses to purchase electricity through renewable sources, such as solar energy. It also allows for virtual net metering for this project, in which power generated at the site can be credited to other county facility energy accounts.
Also during that time, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Solid Waste Management Program partnered with the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, the Office of the County Attorney and the Department of Procurement and Material Management to move toward the project launch, which included leasing a portion of the landfill to Madison Energy Infrastructure, which is developing the project and securing the interconnect with the Dominion Energy system.
In 2024, DPWES unveiled a rooftop solar system at the Newington Solid Waste Facility in Lorton, just completed installing another one on the roof at the I-66 Transfer Station and is currently constructing a solar array on the I-95 Landfill Complex administrative building.
To find more information about the county’s efforts to generate electricity from renewable energy, visit: OES: Renewable Energy | Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination
County residents can learn more about solar energy and incentives available to them at: Going Solar in Fairfax County | Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination
To get information about the DPWES Solid Waste Management Program contact 703-324-5320, email trashmail@fairfaxcounty.gov, or visit Recycling and Trash | Public Works and Environmental Services.