RICHMOND — The State Corporation Commission (SCC), in a 2-1 decision, has approved an application to construct and operate a 50-megawatt biomass electric generating facility in Halifax County, Virginia. The power plant will be located just outside of South Boston and will burn wood byproducts to generate electricity.

The applicant, South Boston Energy, LLC, intends to sell the electricity produced by the plant to Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC), its parent company. NOVEC will also be involved in the design, construction and operation of the facility.

from Richmond-Times Dispatch A proposed biomass-burning power plant drew strong backing from officials and residents from economically distressed Southside Virginia speaking before the Virginia State Corporation Commission today.  "This will be a great opportunity" for Halifax County, said Del. James E. Edmunds II, R-South Boston.

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative wants to build a 49.95-megawatt “green” power plant at South Boston.

The Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County is pleased to announce that Dr. Douglas P. Corrigan has been named the Executive Director of the Riverstone Energy Center.

Corrigan has been praised by the search committee for his entrepreneurial spirit coupled with his experience in business development, technology commercialization and his extensive work in research and development across high-tech sectors.

from The Gazette Virginian - The year 2010 will go down in the record books with nearly $200 million in new investments announced here, and one group in Halifax County is looking forward to the New Year and reflecting on the outgoing one.

Staff of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and specifically IDA Executive Director Mike Sexton are upbeat when reflecting on 2010 and even more upbeat on 2011.

Alternative Energy Plant Set to Power Jobs in Halifax County

A proposed power plant slated for Halifax County, VA took another step forward when Virginia State Corporation Commission gave the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) and its development partner, NOVI Energy, interim authority to begin preliminary construction work on a 49.95 megawatt “green” biomass power plant. The plant will serve NOVEC’s customer-owners.

NOVI Energy, a Michigan-based energy services company, is completing the development tasks necessary to advance the project. NOVI Energy will oversee full construction of the plant once the SCC approves South Boston Energy’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NOVI Energy expects the plant to start generating electricity in 2013. By proceeding with preliminary construction of the facility before the end of the year, NOVEC expects to qualify for a Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant.