Utility to burn biomass

In the town of Altavista in Virginia, US, Dominion Virginia Power is planning to convert its Altavista Power Station from a coal-burning plant to a biomass one.

The plant was temporarily shut down towards the end of 2010 to begin the conversion project. Dominion hopes that it will be reopened as a biomass power plant within three years.

Some construction work needs to be carried out on the existing facility in order to covert it to a waste wood-burning power plant. Up to 50 jobs could b created during the construction phase, in addition to 25 full-time positions when it is reopened. Five staff currently maintain the inactive plant.