Richmond Flying Squirrels go nuts for solar at ballpark

A new stadium for a minor league baseball team in Virginia will soon be supported by a 1-MW solar system, if approved by local and state officials

The Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, will play its 2026 season at the new CarMax Park. The new stadium will serve as an anchor in Richmond’s newly named Diamond District, currently under redevelopment. After the 2026 season, Dominion Energy Virginia plans to install more than 1,700 solar panels on CarMax Park’s two-tiered roof, in addition to five solar-covered carports in an adjacent parking lot.

“We’re thrilled that such an iconic Richmond landmark will help deliver reliable, affordable and increasingly clean power for our customers,” said Ed Baine, Dominion Energy’s EVP of utility operations and president of Dominion Energy Virginia.

If approved by regulators, the project will add to Dominion Energy’s growing solar fleet in Virginia. The stadium project will also count toward the company’s goal of using previously developed land for some power generation projects.

“This solar project represents the kind of integrated, collaborative approach that’s essential to achieving Richmond’s clean energy goals,” said Laura Thomas, Director of the City of Richmond’s Office of Sustainability. “It’s a great example of how public, private, and community partners can come together around a shared vision for a more resilient, sustainable future.”

News item from Dominion Energy