Airports have a lot of land that can’t be used for homes or businesses due to mandated crash zones and other limitations. Dulles International Airport has 13,000 acres dedicated to getting people in and out of the region and country.

But by late 2026, more than 835 acres of the airport’s southwest corner will be generating green energy via 200,000 new solar panels. (The solar project will be almost as large as Reagan National Airport’s entire footprint).

Dominion Energy, Dulles Airport, and public officials ceremonially broke ground on the project Tuesday.

The panels — along with carport solar panels on at a parking lot at the airport — are expected to power some of the facilities at the airport and more than 37,000 homes in the region, according to Dominion Energy. In all, it will generate 100 megawatts of solar energy.  Batteries on site will be able to store up to 50 megawatts.

“After years of hard work, planning, and cooperation with our partners at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, we’re about to break ground on what will be the largest renewable energy project ever built on a U.S. airport,” Dominion Energy President Ed Baine said at the event.”

“I’m thrilled at the innovative first-of-its-kind agreement that we’ve reached with MWAA that will further advance renewable energy and clean transportation at Dulles.”

The project is being paid for by Dominion electric ratepayers.

Instead of leasing the land, as is the case in some other solar energy deals, MWAA wanted to swap goods in kind. The airport will get a fleet of 18 electric transit buses, 50 electric fleet vehicles, and electric vehicle charging stations for Dulles operations and power, in exchange for Dominion using the land.

Dominion Energy will also develop two 1-megawatt solar carports that will partially power Dulles facilities. The carport will also provide shade for vehicles parked in parts of the the economy lots.

Solar panels have an expected life of about 30 years.

MWAA CEO Jack Potter said the solar panels will benefit the airport and will not block a proposed fifth runway.

The project has been in the works for three to four years and received near-universal praise from local officials. Several federal agencies as well as the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors had to approve the project.

“I was ready to fight for this,” Loudoun County Board Chair Phyllis Randall said. “(Because) I know this issue. I know how important solar is. I know how important sustainability is.”

Randall’s work helping the deal go through was made easier because the project will bring 300 jobs to the county and generate about $200 million in economic development.

“It is not common to get a 9-0 vote on the land use item, but this was a very easy 9-0 vote,” she said.

Randall said it’s a model that should be replicated at airports across the country.

“We’re making these decisions for our children, for our children’s children, and even for their children. We have no options but to have sustainable energy in place right now.”

Sen. Mark Warner praised Dominion for the project saying the power company has come a long way.

“When you look at making a transition to clean energy, Dominion was not at the top of the pack and it is now and it’s because of this kind of creative partnership that’s taking place,” Warner said.

Fairfax County Board Chairman Jeff McKay says Dulles’ reputation has improved since opening Metro to the airport in November, and continues with this project.

“(This is) the gateway airport for so many international travelers coming into the most powerful region in the United States of America,” McKay said.  He likes that passengers will see the solar project when they fly through Dulles.

“This is exactly the type of forward image we want to make sure that the world sees.”