By Heather Michon
Editor
Aug. 14, 2025
Tenaska announced plans for a second natural gas power plant in Fluvanna County, the 1,540-megawatt Expedition Generating Station, to be built near its existing facility. At a community meeting at the high school, company representatives pitch the project as a response to growing regional electricity demand and grid reliability needs, and say it will bring an estimated $250 million in tax revenue to the county over the next 30 years.
Sept. 30, 2025
At a packed town hall hosted by Supervisors Chris Fairchild and Mike Goad, residents pushed back sharply, voicing concerns about air quality, water use, noise, and long-term impacts. The meeting comes just days after a Fluvanna Horizons Alliance forum, as the group began to take shape as the project’s leading opposition voice.
Oct. 7, 2025
After more than six hours of technical presentations and emotional public testimony, the Fluvanna Planning Commission voted unanimously to delay action on Tenaska’s key permits, including the special use permit and zoning changes, for up to 90 days. Commissioners cited unresolved concerns about noise, environmental impacts, and transparency, signaling growing skepticism and a need for deeper review before the project can advance.
Dec. 18, 2025
Tenaska proposed a “Good Neighbor Fund” of up to $5 million, offering direct payments to residents living near existing and proposed plants, along with plans for a temporary community advisory board. The move followed October’s permit delay and appeared to address community concerns, as the project headed toward renewed public hearings and continued scrutiny from local officials.
Jan. 7, 2026
A Harvard-affiliated health impact study, presented during a public webinar, projected that emissions from the proposed plant could increase fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution across the region, with associated risks including asthma, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. The analysis, based on modeling rather than direct measurements, intensified public concern, while Tenaska disputed the findings and emphasized compliance with state and federal air-quality standards.
Jan. 11, 2026
Tenaska requested a deferral of Planning Commission review for its special use permit and height waiver, pushing consideration to at least Feb. 24. In the interim, the Commission shifted focus to the threshold question of “substantial accord” with the county’s Comprehensive Plan—effectively separating the policy determination from the project’s technical approvals as scrutiny of the proposal continued.
Jan. 13, 2026
In a pivotal vote, the Fluvanna Planning Commission rejected Tenaska’s request for a finding of “substantial accord” with the Comprehensive Plan, voting 3–1 after hours of public comment and debate. Commissioners cited concerns about the plan’s interpretation and unresolved impacts, while residents voiced strong opposition. Tenaska immediately signaled plans to appeal the decision to the Board of Supervisors.
Feb. 10, 2026
A planned Lake Monticello town hall on the Tenaska project, to be hosted by Supervisors Tony O’Brien and Tim Hodge, was abruptly canceled after concerns that attendance of a third supervisor could violate Virginia’s open-meeting law. The cancellation exposed conflicting interpretations of FOIA requirements and prompted the Board of Supervisors to consider a new policy limiting the number of members who may attend community events.
Feb. 24, 2026
At a special meeting, the Planning Commission took up Tenaska’s deferred applications, ultimately recommending approval of the zoning text amendment allowing taller stacks, while voting to deny the special use permit. The split outcome reflected continued division over the project’s impacts, setting up a final, high-stakes decision before the Board of Supervisors in March.
March 18, 2026
In a 4–1 vote, the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors approved Tenaska’s special use permit for the Expedition Generation plant, while also overturning the Planning Commission’s denial of “substantial accord” and approving a zoning amendment for increased stack height. Supervisor Chris Fairchild cast the lone dissenting vote, marking the project’s most significant local approval to date.
