By Heather Michon
Correspondent
Energy developer Tenaska unveiled comprehensive plans for its proposed Expedition Generating Station at a public forum at Fluvanna County High School on Thursday night (Aug. 14).
The $2 billion natural gas-fired power station will be constructed on Branch Road near Scottsville, adjacent to the company’s 940-megawatt Tenaska Virginia Generating Station (TVGS), which has been in operation since 2004.
With demand for energy driven by data centers and other technological growth, Virginia’s current need for electricity is almost insatiable. Company representatives said this plant will play a role in stabilizing the grid, help reduce dependency on out-of-state energy, and support the local community.
Noise
Noise has emerged as the biggest concern for those who live in the Branch Road neighborhood, and company representatives spent a good portion of the presentation explaining their plans for noise abatement.
Sound experts described the acoustical modeling they had conducted, showing that the offsite noise levels would be around 50-55 decibels – about the same as the hum of a refrigerator or a quiet conversation.
Plans include insulating the gas turbines and installing low-noise fans in the cooling towers. The plant will sit on 50 acres within a 425-acre parcel, with a 300-foot vegetative buffer on all sides.
During construction, they plan to construct a temporary road on their own property to reduce some road noise.
Like TVGS, the Expedition Generation Station will be mostly hidden from view. Company representatives also told the audience they were planning to turn a nearby 390-acre parcel into a conservation easement.
Environment
The facility would draw fuel from the nearby Transco gas pipeline.
While natural gas is a relatively “clean” energy source compared to coal or oil, the Expedition Generation Station, like its sister across the street, will have an environmental impact.
Representatives from the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), the environmental advocacy group Appalachian Voices, and other interest groups were scattered among the 100 or more audience members.
Along with carbon dioxide (CO2), the plant will emit nitrogen oxides, methane, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter.
Tenaska has not yet conducted air pollution modeling for the new plant. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program shows that in 2023, the TVGS emitted around 1.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, down from over 2 million metric tons in 2019.
Like TVGS, the Expedition Generating Station will also draw water from the James River for its cooling towers.
The current estimate is that the plant would use 6-7 million gallons of surface water every day. The water would be used for 6-10 cycles, until it becomes too concentrated for further usage. An estimated 1.5 million gallons of hard water would be released daily.
While they have not yet fully designed the water system for the new plant, TVGS draws water from the James and releases it into Cunningham Creek, which joins the Rivanna River.
Taxes and jobs
Tenaska projects that Fluvanna County will see around $250 million in tax revenue from the plant over its 30-year lifespan, with $14 million annually in the first five years. Combined with the existing plant, this will make Tenaska the biggest taxpayer in the county. They do not plan to ask for tax abatement.
The construction phase, lasting up to four years, will employ over 1,000 people and is expected to generate over $400 million in total economic output. Once completed, the plant will have 29 permanent employees overseeing day-to-day operations.
Permitting
The company faces a permitting phase that could take up to two years.
They will need to obtain an air permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regarding emissions like particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, as well as a water discharge permit to regulate the return of used cooling water into the James River watershed.
If a new water intake is needed to supply the plant, they will also need to obtain a water intake permit to ensure sustainable withdrawal from the James River.
The project also requires a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the State Corporation Commission (SCC), which authorizes the construction and operation of utility infrastructure.
Before any of that happens, Tenaska first needs a Special Use Permit (SUP) from Fluvanna County.
Once that application is submitted, the Planning Commission will hold public hearings and vote to recommend approval, deferral, or denial of the application. The Board of Supervisors will then hold their own hearings and votes.
If the application moves through the process smoothly enough, the SUP could be finalized by the end of the year.
Fluvanna County residents will have the opportunity to participate in public hearings throughout the process, and can always share their thoughts with the county via its comment page at https://www.fluvannacounty.org/bos/webform/my-two-cents
To learn more about the Expedition Generation Station, visit https://expeditiongeneratingstation.com/.
