RICHMOND — The State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved a request by Dominion Virginia Power to convert coal-fired power stations in Altavista, Hopewell, and Southampton County into biomass-burning facilities.

Once completed, the power stations will generate about 51 megawatts of electricity each using primarily waste wood left over from regional timber operations.

Under Virginia law, a utility company is allowed to recover certain costs for major unit modifications. For this project, recovery will be accomplished through a recovery mechanism, identified as Rider B, beginning on April 1, 2012, to recover the estimated $165.8 million cost of the conversions.

Rider B will be reviewed annually and modified, as necessary, by future orders of the Commission.

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View Final Order
Case Number PUE-2011-00073 – Applications of Dominion Virginia Power for approval of the biomass conversions of the Altavista, Hopewell, and Southampton Power Stations