The Nature Conservancy and the Cumberland Forest Limited Partnership have announced new agreements with Sun Tribe Development and ENGIE to develop 14 solar energy and three battery storage projects on 360 acres of former coal mines in the Appalachians. This is the second round of clean energy project announcements from TNC’s Cumberland Forest Project in Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky.
The new projects will be developed on former coal mines, such as the surface coal mine pictured in Campbell County, Tennessee. Credit: TNC/Cameron Davidson
The Cumberland Forest energy projects aim to demonstrate that developers can cost-effectively build clean and renewable energy on former mines while benefiting communities. They take an approach to renewable energy development that seeks to create benefits to climate, conservation and communities – what TNC refers to as the “3Cs.” TNC solicited competitive project proposals using LevelTen Energy, ensuring that the selected projects would meet 3C criteria. As the projects are designed and built in the coming years, they are expected to provide increased local tax revenue, short-term construction job opportunities and a dedicated fund to finance additional community benefits.
“When selecting which companies to work with, we sought those who were willing to push the boundaries of clean energy development with us,” says Brad Kreps, TNC Clinch Valley director. “Developing projects on former coal mines – and in a way that engages with people in the local area so that communities can benefit – takes ingenuity, skill and determination. Ultimately, we selected Sun Tribe and ENGIE, two experienced developers that have a great interest in bringing this vision to life.”
The new projects are expected to generate approximately 49 MW of solar energy and 320 MW of battery storage.
Sun Tribe’s new proposed projects would be located in Virginia and Tennessee. Sun Tribe plans to develop one 5-MW solar project and three utility-scale energy storage systems ranging from 80 MW to 150 MW. The storage projects will enhance grid reliability in the immediate region and reduce the need for future grid upgrades — costs that are typically passed through to utility customers.
“Locating solar and battery storage on former mine lands makes perfect sense to us,” said Danny Van Clief, CEO of Sun Tribe Development. “These sites and the communities they rest within have powered our country for more than a century — all we have to do is reimagine them for today’s energy technology.”
ENGIE plans to develop 13 community-scale solar projects on former mines in Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. These projects also take advantage of incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, helping keep project costs down. ENGIE’s projects will range from 1 to 6 MW in size and will increase local access to clean power.
“ENGIE is thrilled to collaborate on the development of these projects with The Nature Conservancy,” says Kristen Fornes, ENGIE head of distributed solar and storage. “Converting former coal mine sites into solar energy facilities presents a unique opportunity to transform environmental challenges into significant economic and social benefits. These initiatives not only contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but also generate employment opportunities, rejuvenate local communities, and enhance access to clean energy in areas where it is most needed.”
These newly announced agreements build on 3C renewable energy efforts already underway by TNC and solar developers, Sun Tribe and Dominion Energy. Since 2021, Sun Tribe and Dominion Energy have been conducting pre-development work with the goal of generating 140 MW of renewable energy on eight existing sites within the Cumberland Forest. The first project expected to come online is a 10-MW solar array called Wildcats Solar, located in Wise County, Virginia. Proposed to be in construction by 2026, the project is designed to provide clean power and an estimated $800,000 in tax revenue to the community over the project’s lifetime. Other solar projects from the first round of project announcements are scheduled to come online by 2029.
News item from TNC
