Navy, Dominion sign energy agreement

In June, leaders from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, which provides weapons and munitions support to the U.S. Navy, and Fortune 500 utility Dominion Energy signed an agreement to explore the development of a “reliable, resilient and responsible” energy source at the base.

It could involve solar power, a small modular nuclear reactor or a natural gas power plant, Dominion says.

A working group that includes leaders from the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic, the Yorktown installation and Dominion Energy is studying specific sites and feasible energy options, says the weapons station’s public affairs officer, Max Lonzanida.

The goal is to ensure that the site and power option are the best fit for the base, Dominion and surrounding communities, and public works officials and community stakeholders will be consulted.

“We’re also evaluating our current power grid and how that can be upgraded,” Lonzanida says.

In 2024, the Virginia Department of Energy announced the Navy was considering four sites in Virginia for SMRs, including Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Support Activity South Potomac, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Marine Corps Base Quantico. Now the Navy appears to be considering other options.

In August, the Department of the Navy issued a request for white papers from companies that develop SMRs and energy storage and generation technologies that will help keep Navy and Marine bases functional as demand for electricity grows.

This effort is in the exploratory phase, and Dominion officials say they are “engaged and open to future collaborations.”