Sun Tribe Development, LLC

Clean energy company Sun Tribe reaches new milestones on more than 100 MW of Virginia solar projects in partnership with RWE

The leading U.S. renewables owner-operator recently purchased two utility-scale solar projects from Sun Tribe, in addition to two prior projects that have now reached commercial operation. Dominion Energy Virginia will purchase the power from all four projects through a PPA.

Charlottesville, Va. — 20 July, 2023 — Sun Tribe Development, LLC, the utility-scale development arm of the mid-Atlantic clean energy company Sun Tribe, today announced it has completed the sale of two utility-scale solar projects in Virginia totaling 68 megawatts (MW). RWE Clean Energy, a subsidiary of RWE AG, purchased the two projects. In addition, Sun Tribe announced two Virginia solar projects totaling 40 MW have now reached commercial operation. Both projects were sold to Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses (CEB) prior to RWE finalizing its acquisition of the business earlier this year.

In total, the portfolio exceeds 100 MW of completed development by Sun Tribe, including siting, interconnection, land use approvals, and the execution of four Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed with Dominion Energy Virginia, the regulated utility company providing electricity to more than 2.8 million customers in the state. Sun Tribe served as originator and developer of record for the portfolio, while RWE Clean Energy will serve as the long-term owner-operator of each project.

“We’re honored that a respected top-tier renewable energy company like RWE Clean Energy has chosen Sun Tribe projects for some of their most recent acquisitions,” said Danny Van Clief, CEO of Sun Tribe Development. “This portfolio of solar projects is helping Virginia take an important step toward 100% carbon-free electricity, in line with the ambition of the Virginia Clean Economy Act. We’re proud to partner with Dominion Energy Virginia as the PPA offtaker for the clean, affordable, reliable power these projects will produce, benefitting all Virginians.”

The project portfolio includes:

  • Pleasant Hill Solar: 20 MW AC project located in the City of Suffolk, Va., which is now commercially operational
  • Watlington Solar: 20 MW AC project located in Halifax County, Va., which is now commercially operational
  • Groves Solar: 16 MW AC project located in Westmoreland County, Va., which is in development
  • 360 Solar: 52 MW AC project located in Chesterfield County, Va., which is in development

“We’re invigorated by our ability to help Dominion Energy move forward with a slate of projects in its home state of Virginia that reduces its carbon footprint and helps get the industry closer to achieving net zero,” said Mark Noyes, CEO of RWE Clean Energy. “As a company, we are well-positioned to leverage our vast experience to deliver the highest quality solar energy projects, optimizing costs, while providing tailor-made solutions to our customers.”

RWE Clean Energy operates a renewable energy portfolio of about 8 gigawatts installed capacity of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage, making it the number four renewable energy company in the U.S. and the country’s second largest solar owner and operator, present in the majority of U.S. states. RWE Clean Energy’s strong position in renewable energy is a result of combining RWE Renewables Americas with Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, acquired by RWE in March 2023.

Sun Tribe’s work extends broadly across the clean energy landscape, including but not limited to commercial-scale development, utility-scale development, EPC services, and asset management. For more information, visit www.suntribesolar.com.

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About Sun Tribe
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, Sun Tribe has grown into one of the largest clean energy companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. Sun Tribe delivers legacy-grade projects that translate into long-term value for partners. Diligent upfront de-risking, best-in-class development and engineering, and forging ongoing relationships built on trust define the Sun Tribe approach. With a team of more than 80 renewable energy experts, Sun Tribe has completed more than 100 clean energy projects to date. The team has previously developed and built solar facilities in 20 states for leading partners including Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Exelon, Pacific Power, PSEG, the United States Air Force, and the United States Navy. To learn more visit www.suntribesolar.com.

Media Contact
Nikki Arnone, Inflection Point Agency for Sun Tribe
[email protected]

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Picture of a RWE Clean Energy solar project (Watlington Solar) for media use (credit: RWE) is available at the RWE Mediathek.