Dominion Energy Virginia issued a request for proposals from developers to build a small modular reactor at its existing North Anna nuclear plant in Louisa County, Va., the company announced July 10.
The utility is not yet committing to building an SMR at the plant northwest of Richmond, Va., but the RFP represents a first step to evaluating the technology’s feasibility.
“For over 50 years, nuclear power has been the most reliable workhorse of Virginia’s electric fleet, generating 40% of our power and with zero carbon emissions,” Dominion Energy CEO Robert Blue said in a statement. “As Virginia’s need for reliable and clean power grows, SMRs could play a pivotal role in an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach to our energy future. Along with offshore wind, solar and battery storage, SMRs have the potential to be an important part of Virginia’s growing clean energy mix.”
The announcement was made possible by Senate Bill 454, which was enacted into law earlier this year and allows Dominion and American Electric Power’s Appalachian Power to recover the costs of developing one or more SMRs that do not exceed 500 MW.
As part of the process, Dominion could ask the State Corporation Commission for separate approvals for different development phases of the project. The company expects to file for cost recovery this fall.
The legislation caps any rate increase from developing an SMR at $1.40 per average monthly bill, but the utility said its cost recovery request should come in well below that.
Dominion announced the RFP during a press conference at the North Anna plant that included Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other state officials.
“The commonwealth’s potential to unleash and foster a rich energy economy is limitless,” Youngkin said. “To meet the power demands of the future, it is imperative we continue to explore emerging technologies that will provide Virginians access to the reliable, affordable and clean energy they deserve. In alignment with our all-American, all-of-the-above energy plan, small nuclear reactors will play a critical role in harnessing this potential and positioning Virginia to be a leading nuclear innovation hub.”
Dominion has been using nuclear power for decades, with the two-reactor North Anna plant producing 17% of Virginia’s power and its Surry Power Station, near the state’s southeastern coast, producing another 14%. The company also runs nuclear plants in Connecticut and South Carolina.
North Anna has pending applications to extend its reactors’ commercial lifespan out to 2058 and 2060, while the SMR facility could come online in the 2030s and help the firm produce firm, carbon-free power to meet Virginia’s net-zero-emission goals.
The legislation caps SMRs at 500 MW, which is less than one-third the capacity of North Anna and Surry. SMRs are produced in a factory and then assembled on-site, a process that is meant to be more efficient than the one-off constructions used in traditional nuclear plants.
Dominion said Virginia has an ample workforce to deal with SMRs because of its existing power plants and the fact that it is home to one of two shipyards in the country that can make nuclear-powered ships. Virginia already has about 100,000 jobs that are directly tied to the nuclear industry.
Siting an SMR alongside North Anna means Dominion already owns the land and would be able to take advantage of the interconnection facilities there. The utility said it was considering “sites across Virginia” for additional SMRs.
