Dominion Energy, with headquarters in Richmond, VA, and operations in 18 states, plans to invest more than $300 million on two projects in Pittsylvania County.
Dominion has selected a 149-acre lot in the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill for a 500-megawatt combustion turbine “peaking” plant that would have the power out to serve approximately 125,000 homes.
The project would result in close to 200 construction jobs and more than $200 million in investment and would contribute millions of tax dollars to both the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County during the asset’s life.
Dominion would be the first tenant to locate within the park, which is located along Berry Hill Road in Pittsylvania County, a few miles west of the Danville city limits. The Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill, Virginia’s largest industrial park, measures 3,528 acres and is jointly owned by the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County. The megasite is shovel ready including infrastructure, site grading, and is ready for occupancy; suitable for original equipment manufacturing operations and other large advanced industrial tenants.
In addition to the Southern Virginia Megasite project, Dominion also has made the decision to purchase and pursue the Maplewood Solar facility – a $130 million project that represents 120 megawatts of power production approximately seven miles northwest of the town of Chatham in central Pittsylvania County.
The solar project, which received local zoning approval earlier this year, is proposed to be situated on close to 1,200 acres.
Fred Shanks, chairman of the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA) and a Danville city councilman, stated, “The proposed Dominion facility is a great first tenant for the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill. From construction to operation, this project will be a substantial boost to the Danville region by creating 200 construction jobs, five permanent employees, and capital investment that will provide for an immediate return on investment for our taxpayers.”
Shanks added, “Danville Power and Light customers should also benefit from lower congestion prices in this part of Virginia, due to the peak power generation that will occur in our area during high demand months.”
Robert “Bob” Warren, RIFA vice chairman and a member of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, stated, “We are excited and thankful that Dominion has selected Pittsylvania County for these two exciting energy generation projects. These projects and their associated investments will be a tremendous boost for our growing economy. Attracting Dominion as the first tenant is a big win for the county and its citizens, and we are confident that it will lead to additional industries locating in the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill.”
The Danville-Pittsylvania RIFA is an organization owned by the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County. The purpose of RIFA is to jointly own, operate, and market regional industrial parks. Expenses and revenues are shared equally by Danville and Pittsylvania County.