ROCKINGHAM – Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) will be among the utilities to benefit from a new partnership between Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) and EDF Renewables North America.
ODEC and EDF have entered an agreement to develop and build a 30MW portfolio of distributed solar projects across ODEC’s member service territories in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Headquartered in Glen Allen, ODEC is a not-for-profit, member-owned, power supply cooperative serving 11 distribution cooperatives, including SVEC.
The projects are intended to bring local solar energy to ODEC member communities while at the same time providing regional and energy diversification to its generation portfolio.
“We are excited by the opportunity to work with ODEC and EDF to develop opportunities for our member-owners,” said Greg Rogers, SVEC’s vice president of Engineering and Operations. “We’ve been working hard to find ways to make the use of solar power acceptable to all parties involved. This new partnership at the ODEC level will greatly supplement our continued efforts at the local level.”
SVEC is focused on being a leader in sustainable initiatives. Two contractors, Nova Solar and Altenergy, have been selected to install rooftop solar panels and a ground-level tracking array at the cooperative’s Rockingham Complex. Through a grant N.C. State University received from the U.S. Department of Energy, the school is studying the financial feasibility and possible implementation of a community solar project in SVEC’s service territory. Additionally, the cooperative recently hired an energy program coordinator, whose responsibilities include serving as a personal point of contact for member-owners interested in distributed energy from renewable resources.
“The cooperative understands that it is our role to serve as a trusted source to members-owners for electricity information, including conservation efforts,” Rogers said. “These solar projects are just one part of this educational mission.”
Chartered in 1936, SVEC serves approximately 98,000 meters in the counties of Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Highland, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren and the city of Winchester in Virginia. Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative was the first electric cooperative chartered in Virginia. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. SVEC supports our armed services and veterans in employment opportunities.
CONTACT: Kathy Josephson or Cammie Tutwiler or Preston Knight
PHONE: (540) 830-7274 or (540) 383-7663 or (540) 820-0809
EMAIL: kjosephson@svec.coop or ctutwiler@svec.coop or pknight@svec.coop