Dominion Virginia Power, an auxiliary of Dominion, has submitted a proposal to Virginia State Corporation Commission to approve the conversion of its coal utilizing Virginia electricity-generating power stations to use biomass, a clean energy source.
The old stations currently operate around 25% of their time and the approval will result in 90% up time to generate more power.
The change in fuel usage from coal to biomass will allow the power stations located in Altavista, Hopewell and Southampton County to generate over 150 MW of clean power enough to supply 37,500 houses. The approval of the proposal will also enable the utility company to have 15% of its energy production from renewable energy sources by the year 2025.
The change over to biomass such as waste wood from local timber operations will assist power stations in the reduction of particulate emissions, mercury, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides to meet the emissions norms set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
The total cost of conversions is estimated to be around $165 million or $55 million per facility. The company has sought an annual rate increase from the residential clients to adjust the financial costs involved. The conversion of the facilities is anticipated to get completed by the year end of 2013. The nearly identical power stations each with a capability to generate around 51 MW will bring in around 300 new jobs in various industries and will create around 160 jobs in the construction period.
Source: http://www.dom.com/