Permits approved for 2 new solar facilities

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has approved permits for two new solar facilities.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s office announced Wednesday that the state had approved two 20 megawatt projects, one in Essex County and another in Powhatan County.

McAuliffe has been a cheerleader for solar energy in Virginia, which has lagged other states in solar energy production facilities. The state only had 18 megawatts of solar energy in 2014, growing to 188 megawatts by the end of 2016.