Navy, Dominion sign power agreement for Naval Weapons Station Yorktown

Leaders from the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, which provides weapons and munitions support for the U.S. Navy, and Dominion Energy signed an agreement Friday to explore the construction of a “reliable, resilient and responsible” energy source at the base.

The power generated would serve the installation and the surrounding community, according to a spokesperson for the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. The types of energy sources that could be considered run the gamut from solar facilities to a natural gas power plant to a small modular nuclear reactor, according to a news release received Sunday from the weapons station.

Ed Baine, president of Dominion Energy Virginia, stated Friday that the company will look at sites on or near Navy property for a new power generation asset to maximize land use and infrastructure, the news release stated.

“The men and women of our armed forces have never let this country down, and Dominion … will never let them down,” Baine said at the signing, according to the release. “Together we will build a stronger, more resilient future.”

Last year, Dominion Energy signed a similar agreement with Fort Gregg-Adams, a U.S. Army garrison located near Petersburg. A spokesperson for Dominion Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Virginia Department of Energy announced in October that four of seven locations being considered by the Navy for potential shore-based nuclear power sites are in Virginia. Those sites under consideration are: Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Support Activity South Potomac, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Last week, the York County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to study possible amendments to its code regarding small modular nuclear reactors. Currently, there are no land use regulations for those facilities.

In October, Amazon.com and Dominion Energy Virginia entered into an agreement to explore potential development of small modular nuclear reactors at North Anna Power Station in Louisa County.

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is the largest employer in York County. More than 2,400 active duty service members, 1,100 U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees and 530 contractors work at the base, according to the spokesperson.