Dominion is planning to convert three of its existing coal-fired power stations located in Virginia to 100% renewable biomass fuel. The three facilities proposed for conversion are the Altavista, Hopewell and Southampton power stations. These conversions, assuming Virginia DEQ and SCC approval, are expected to be converted by the end of 2013. Once converted, each facility will produce up to 51 MW of electricity for our customers (total of 153 MW of biomass-fueled power).
The fuel will primarily be derived from waste wood typically left behind in the forests as part of the logging process for roundwood. Roundwood is harvested to make lumber, pulp & paper, or wood pellets. Waste wood is the smaller tree tops and branches left behind after roundwood harvesting.
The conversions from coal to biomass fuel are expected to benefit Dominion’s customers, the environment and Virginia as a whole, and will produce renewable energy certificates that can be optimized for customer benefit. The capital cost of the conversions is expected to be significantly lower than the estimated cost to build a new greenfield biomass facility.
These projects were selected as a reasonable and cost-effective means of addressing customers’ growing need for reliable electric service, and they are expected to provide customer savings over their 25-year lives when compared to continued operation of the units on coal.
The biomass conversions will also have numerous benefits to Virginia’s environment, including reductions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and mercury compared to continued coal operations, and they will meet all of EPA’s existing or proposed regulations.
The construction and operation of the biomass faculties will promote economic development and enhance employment within Virginia, including jobs during their construction period and the addition of approximately 300 jobs for logging, chipping and hauling of the biomass fuel to the three facilities.
Dominion filed applications with the Virginia State Corporation Commission on June 27, 2011 seeking approval to construct and operate these conversions to utilize 100% biomass fuel.
Copyright ©2011 Dominion
