Cypress Creek Power Station

Second to California, Virginia is the largest importer of electricity in the United States. Virginia imports roughly 34% of our electricity each year from generation sources outside of the state. The 2010 Virginia Energy Plan estimates that Virginia will need to add 7,200 megawatt of new electricity generation in the next 10 years just to maintain the current ratio and keep up with rising demand.

A new 1,500 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Surry County proposed by Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) would make a significant contribution to narrowing Virginia’s projected shortfall. In February 2010, ODEC was granted final zoning approval by the Dendron Town Council and Surry County Board of Supervisors to build the $6 billion Cypress Creek Power Station on a 350-acre site just outside of the Town of Dendron. However, due to slower than expected growth in electricity demand in the wake of the recession, ODEC announced in late 2010 that it would delay plans to build the plant by 18 to 24 months. They plan to resume the state and federal permitting process once market demand rebounds to normal levels.

Last year the Richmond Times-Dispatch characterized the project as an “economic windfall” for Surry County, the sixth-smallest county in Virginia. The construction phase of the project would require 2,400 to 2,600 workers, and operating the plant would create 200 to 225 permanent jobs for area residents. Many residents and community leaders are enthusiastic about the prospects for bring economic development to the economically challenged region. Surry’s median income falls 25% below the state average and area poverty rates are 15% higher than the rest of the state.

ODEC is a member-owned electric cooperative that provides power to 280,000 homes and businesses in Virginia. For more information about the proposed Cypress Creek Power Station, visit www.CypressCreekPowerStation.com.