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byline: Paula C. Squires

More companies seek renewable energy

 

Demand from corporate America and falling costs are the drivers behind the development of renewable energy in Virginia and around the country, Garret Bean, vice president of development for sPower, told a gathering Wednesday at the 2018 Virginia Energy Conference.

 

Bean was one of the keynote speakers at the conference, which drew nearly 400 people to the Greater Richmond Convention Center. It was sponsored by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

 

According to Bean, it cost about $96 to develop 1 kilowatt of solar power in 1970.  Today, that cost has dropped to 40 cents. “It’s no longer just a feel-good thing. It makes economic sense to put more renewables on the grid,” he said.

 

Bean’s company, Salt Lake City-based sPower, is the largest private owner of operating solar assets in the U.S. It operates 160 projects and is the group behind Sustainable Power Group LLC’s proposal to develop what would be the largest solar facility in Virginia: a 500-megawatt, 3,500-solar farm in rural Spotslyvania County that would be powered by nearly 1 million photovoltaic solar panels.

 

The company plans to sell the power to corporations throughout the state. Microsoft announced that it wants to buy nearly two thirds of the power to fulfill its goal of powering their data centers in Virginia with clean energy.

 

Earlier this month, a public hearing on the project drew concerns from some residents who live near the property in Fawn Lake. According to published reports, they expressed worries about possible impacts on wetlands and streams, excess water runoff and underground aquifers and what they referred to as toxic chemicals in the solar panels. 

 

Bean pointed out that solar projects create jobs, and there is a lot of potential in Virginia for new development, a state that currently  generates only about a half of a percent of its power from solar.

 

Currently, there are 212 solar companies in Virginia and 22 manufacturers, added Bean.  His company finds Virginia an attractive state to do business, he said, because 70 percent of the world’s internet traffic flows through the commonwealth, primarily in Loudoun County, which is home to many data centers.

 

According to Bean, 4 percent of the nation’s power supply is used to power data centers. That number is expected to increase to 10 percent in the next five to 10 years.

 

Microsoft, Goggle, Apple, Facebook and more traditional companies such as Walmart are demanding clean energy sources that align with their company’s values, said Bean. They have joined an initiative known as RE100, in which the companies are committed to having 100 percent of their power generated from renewable sources.

 

For sPower to move forward with its massive solar farm in Virginia, the project needs special permits from Spotsylvania County and approval from the State Corporation Commission.  

 

“Unfortunately, it comes down to whether the towns, cities and counties are willing to have these structures,” said Bean.  “We wish the governor could issue some building permits.”  

 

Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration is moving forward with developing its energy policy, said Matt Strickler, the state’s secretary of natural resources and a speaker on one of Wednesday’s panels.

 

There will be an emphasis on affordability and reliability, added Strickler. “The governor wants to focus on bringing more renewables online.” 

 

 To spark interest in wind, Northam announced Tuesday that the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is seeking proposals from qualified contractors to help deploy strategies that will strengthen Virginia’s position in attracting an offshore wind supply chain and service industry.

 

“Hampton Roads’ unmatched port infrastructure and high-quality maritime workforce make the region an ideal location for offshore wind energy development,” Northam said in a statement.

 

The request for proposals (RFP) focuses on expertise in port infrastructure requirements, build-out of the various offshore wind supply chain sectors and long-term maritime service needs.

 

“We look forward to collaborating on business partnership, business climate,and workforce development strategies aimed at fulfilling the offshore wind industry’s needs,” said Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy Director John Warren.

 

Proposals must be submitted by June 22.

 

The College Board is expanding in Fairfax County, retaining 600 jobs

The College Board is expanding its operation in Fairfax County. The nonprofit, formed in 1900 to broaden access to higher education, said Tuesday that it will lease an additional 74,000 square feet at Reston
Town Center, a move that retains 614 existing jobs and creates 120 new ones.

In announcing the expansion, Gov. Ralph Northam said, “Fairfax County continues to attract sought-after talent that enables businesses to thrive, and we are proud that this vital not-for-profit organization chose to reinvest in the commonwealth …”

Virginia competed against Washington, D.C. for the project. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) to secure the project . The governor also approved a $750,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund.

Gerald L. Gordon, president and CEO of the FCEDA, noted in a statement that: “The College Board is one of the best-known examples of more than 270 industry and trade associations that have a presence in Fairfax County and benefit from a highly educated workforce and location close to Washington, D.C.’’

The membership association is made up of more 6,000 of the world’s educational institutions. It said it helps more than 7 million students prepare for transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success, including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program.

“Fairfax County has been a great home for The College Board,” Jeremy Singer, the board’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “Our team in Reston will continue to play a critical role in our efforts to a clear a path for students in Virginia and across the country to own their futures.”

Virginia tourism revenues reach $25 billion in 2017

 

 

 

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that Virginia’s tourism revenues reached $25 billion in 2017, a 4.4 percent increase over 2016.

 

In 2017, tourism in Virginia supported 232,000 jobs — an increase of 1.1 percent compared to the previous year. The tourism industry also provided $1.73 billion in state and local revenue, an increase of 2.8 percent compared to 2016. The travel industry is the fifth largest employer in Virginia.

 

In 2017, domestic travelers spent $68 million a day in Virginia, the factor behind the more than 4 percent bump. Domestic travel-supported employees in Virginia earned nearly $5.9 billion in payroll income during 2017, representing a 4.8 percent increase from 2016. 

 

“Virginia’s tourism industry is an important diversifier for our economy as it continues to grow and flourish in multiple regions of our Commonwealth,” Gov. Northam said in a statement. “Travelers are coming to Virginia from across the country and the globe to experience our rich historic attractions, unmatched outdoor recreation offerings, eight oyster regions, world-class food and craft beverages, beautiful landscapes, and exciting arts and culture. These visitors are spending millions of dollars a day, injecting critical funds back into our community coffers and helping to make Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

 

 

Sheltering Arms and Westminister Canterbury expand in Richmond

 

Two well-known Richmond institutions, Sheltering Arms and Westminister Canterbury, are expanding in the region.

Sheltering Arms Hospital and VCU Health System have broken ground on a 114-bed rehabilitation facility on 25 acres in the West Creek Medical Park, east of the state Route 288 interchange in Goochland County.

“Today marks an important step forward in our plan to bring advanced technology, research, and evidenced-based clinical care together under one roof in order to offer our patients the best possible outcomes for success. Today we celebrate the building that will bring that goal to life,” Mary Zweifel, president and CEO of Sheltering Arms, said in a statement.

The joint venture combines inpatient beds from both organizations to create a multimillion-dollar hospital focused on caring for people who have survived strokes, spinal cord injuries or brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation or various neurological diseases and disorders.

The Sheltering Arms Rehab Institute is expected to open in late spring of 2020.

Meanwhile, Westminster Canterbury Richmond, a continuing care retirement/life plan community, has purchased of 10.6 acres of land contiguous to its current campus at 1600 Westbrook Ave. The acreage is part of the former Azalea Mall property in Henrico County.

Westminster Canterbury has developed a master campus plan with THW Design of Atlanta, in collaboration with staff, trustees and residents.

The campus plan anticipates building 125 additional residences for people age 62 or older. The timeline for construction and presales will be announced at a later date.

“Westminster Canterbury has been planning for this for a long time. The time is right for us to expand our mission and our campus so we can better serve seniors in our region. We are extremely blessed to have the market and financial strength to make this significant investment in the future of this great organization,” John Burns, president and CEO of Westminister Canterbury Richmond said in a statement.

Westminster Canterbury is home to nearly 900 residents in independent-, assisted-, memory- support and health-care living. The campus includes a 335-seat theater and a child development center.

Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer gets leasing assignment for Chesapeake Square

 

Kotarides Holdings has selected Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer as the exclusive leasing representative for the redevelopment of Chesapeake Square, a 613,000-square-foot retail property.

Located on 68 acres in the western Chesapeake/ northern Suffolk area of Hampton Roads, the shopping center is slated for what Thalhimer termed as a “major repositioning,” which will include restaurant, retail, office and mixed-use opportunities. 

Existing tenants include Target, Cinemark, JC Penney and Burlington. The redevelopment will take place in phases. Thalhimer’s David Machupa and Ed Kimple are the leasing representatives.

Divaris Real Estate adds five retail properties in Hampton Roads to its leasing portfolio

Divaris Real Estate Inc. in Virginia Beach has added five retail properties to its leasing and management portfolio.  The properties represent additional retail space of 594,657 square feet located throughout the Hampton Roads region

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The new properties are: Fairfield Shopping Center in Virginia Beach, 242,470 square feet; Newport Crossing in Newport News, 194,000 square feet; Victory Center in Newport News, 69,000 square feet; Elmhurst Square in Portsmouth, 66,254 square feet; and Lynnhaven Square in Virginia Beach, 22,933 square feet. 


DRE’s George Fox and Kris Fuller, who specialize in grocery-anchored assets, will lease the portfolio. 
With the new properties, Divaris Property Management Corp. said it manages more than 36.7 million square feet in the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S.

Phoenix Senior Living will build two new communities in Virginia

Phoenix Senior Living, a Georgia-based senior living operator, has announced a joint venture with Connexion Development Group in South Carolina that will add five new senior living communities, including two in Virginia.

The Retreat at Berryville, scheduled to open in the third quarter, will offer 51 units with 29 for assisted living and 22 for memory care. The Retreat at Fishersville will be the same size as Berryville, with construction expected to break ground this year.

The five new communities will add a total of 264 assisted living and memory care units throughout South Carolina’s Low Country and Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The locations include The Retreat at Lady’s Island in Beaufort, S.C., which is scheduled to open this month.  The remaining sites are in Hartsville and Camden, S. C.

Headquartered in Roswell, Ga., privately held Phoenix Senior Living operates 15 communities in their Southeast footprint. 

“We are very excited to expand our footprint in South Carolina and Virginia,” Jesse Marinko, founder and CEO of Phoenix Senior Living, said in a statement. “Our continued and strategic growth allows Phoenix to invest into our organization’s human capital and creates jobs throughout the Southeast for individuals who are passionate and bring a servant’s heart to our organization.”

Peterson Cos. selects H&R Retail to lease Avonlea in Loudoun County


The Peterson Cos. has selected H&R Retail as the retail brokerage firm responsible for marketing and leasing the retail component of Peterson’s new project, Avonlea, in Loudoun County

Avonlea will be a 30-acre, mixed-use development near the intersection of Route 50 and Loudoun County Parkway.

Construction is expected to begin on its first phase, with a theater, 200,000 square feet of retail and 30,000 square feet of office, this year.  Phase I also will include outdoor plazas, cafe-style seating, fire pits and a water feature.

The project is scheduled to be open by 2020. At full build-out, Avonlea could contain as much as 650,000 square feet of retail with additional office and residential.

H&R Retail said it seek a tenant mix of retail, sit-down and fast casual restaurants, small boutiques, daily needs users, entertainment, and fitness tenants. Already signed is Cinepolis, a theater with 11 screens and 748 seats.

David Ward, Ray Schupp, and Sean Harcourt will lead the H&R retail team. H&R Retail is the largest retail-only brokerage firm inthe Washington, D.C./Baltimore metropolitan area, specializing in
landlord and tenant representation and investment sales. With offices in Baltimore and Bethesda, Md., H&R said it represents more than 18 million square feet of r etail space and 88 big box, specialty stores and restaurants.

BWXT names Joel W. Duling president of nuclear operations group subsidiary

BWX Technologies Inc. said Thursday that Joel W. Duling has been appointed to succeed retiring BWXT Nuclear Operations Group Inc. President Joe G. Henry effective June 22.

Currently, Duling serves as president of BWXT subsidiary Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS)  Inc. in Erwin, Tenn. He has nearly 30 years of leadership and management experience in the manufacturing and nuclear industries including reactor operations, nuclear facility operations, armor and steel manufacturing, safety, environmental compliance and remediation.

Prior to joining NFS in 2013 as director of operations, Duling was vice president of production at the Y-12 National Security Complex where he was responsible for the refurbishment of nuclear weapons components for the nation’s nuclear deterrent.

Other nuclear leadership roles include serving as director of the Specific Manufacturing Capability Project at Idaho National Laboratory, Babcock & Wilcox site manager of the Naval Reactors Facility decommissioning project, and program manager for uranium and waste storage, treatment and disposal at Fernald Environmental Management Project.

Real estate investment trust buys Mechanicsville shopping center for $12.2 million

 

Hanover Square North, a 72,440-square-foot shopping center in Mechanicsville, has been sold for $12.2 million to Medalist Diversified Holdings LLC, a real estate investment trust.

According to Commonwealth Commercial Partners in Henrico County, which announced the sale, the transaction closed on May 8. Commonwealth Commercial developed, managed, leased and then sold the property at 7230 Bell Creek Road. The shopping center was built in 2007 and sits on 9.6 acres.

Evan Ocheltree, Craige Pelouze and Russell Wyatt represented the sellers, COF North LLC and COF North II LLC, in the transaction.