In 2020, the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) aimed to make Virginia's energy economy carbon-free by 2050. While developing carbon-free energy infrastructure is crucial, it can conflict with other land use goals. The Natural Heritage Committee of Albemarle County advises that utility-scale solar projects should enhance land use rather than degrade it. To protect valuable green fields and ecosystems, we aim to find solutions that prioritize using grey fields and flat roofs on existing structures.

Albemarle County features a mix of forests and farmland interspersed with Greyfield's like parking lots and strip malls. Our analysis focused on GIS data to identify usable Greyfield's, excluding sites with slopes over 15% that are unsuitable for ground-level solar. We targeted parcels of 10-50 acres and 100+ acres with impermeability levels above 70-80% and assessed open roofs, asphalt areas, and minimally vegetated grounds.

We identified 55 diverse sites for potential solar integration, categorized into five typologies: Open Space, Institutional, Commercial, Industry, and Infrastructure. This classification helped us develop specific assessment criteria, evaluating each site based on Proximity to City, Temporality of Use, Dual Use potential, Affordability, and Sustainability. Each site was scored on these metrics to determine its solar potential.

Our research highlights the benefits of using Greyfield's for solar energy, offering a solution to combat urban heat islands while generating clean power. This approach supports sustainability goals and aids policymakers and urban planners in making informed decisions.