RICHMOND, Va., March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

"At Dominion, we are constantly looking for the best way to produce energy safely, efficiently and in an environmentally responsible manner," said Ken Barker, vice president of Technical Solutions. "This initiative is another step toward fulfilling Dominion's commitment to substantially increase our solar generation portfolio in the Commonwealth. In Philip Morris, we are fortunate to have a partner that shares our commitment to clean, sustainable energy."

"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 megawatts 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 megawatts of company-owned solar facilities, enough to power up to 7,500 homes.

Standard Solar, Inc. – a leader in the full-service development, construction, integration, financing and installation of solar electric systems – has been selected as the engineering, procurement and construction company. Most of the work will be performed by local subcontractors.

In other solar initiatives, Dominion recently announced 400 megawatts of large-scale solar to be produced in the Commonwealth by 2020. Pending SCC approval the first facility will be built in Fauquier County, Va., and will generate up to 20 megawatts. Dominion now has 744 megawatts of solar generating capacity in development, under construction, or in operation across seven states.

About Dominion
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 24,600 megawatts of generation, 12,400 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,455 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 949 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves utility and retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit www.dom.com.

About Philip Morris USA
Altria Group owns three premier tobacco operating companies. Each has a leading position in the largest and most profitable United States tobacco categories: cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products and large machine-made cigars.  Altria's wholly-owned subsidiaries include Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA), U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (USSTC), John Middleton Co., Nu Mark LLC, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. (Ste. Michelle) and Philip Morris Capital Corporation. Altria holds a continuing economic and voting interest in SABMiller. PM USA has approximately half of U.S. cigarette market share, led by Marlboro – one of America's most iconic brands – and L&M, Parliament and Virginia Slims. More information about Altria is available at altria.com.

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SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power