SMRs

Appalachian Power wants to bring small modular reactors to Virginia

The identified site is on company-owned Joshua Falls property in Campbell County, Virginia, and Appalachian Power now plans to begin the early site permit application process.

Appalachian Power wants to bring small modular reactors to Virginia
Artist's concept of Holtec International's SMR. (Credit: Holtec International).

Appalachian Power has announced plans to bring small modular reactors (SMRs) to Virginia after its representatives identified a potential site for a project.

The identified site is on company-owned Joshua Falls property in Campbell County, Virginia, and Appalachian Power now plans to begin the early site permit application process.

The site provides access to existing electrical infrastructure that is necessary for a generation project, the utility said, including a 765-kilovolt substation and nearby roadways that can support moving the necessary equipment onsite. The relatively small footprint allows SMRs to be constructed in areas that were not previously feasible for nuclear energy generation.

“SMR technology is a key component to providing perfect power to our customers,” said Bill Fehrman, AEP president and chief executive officer. “Appalachian Power and AEP are committed to working with our states to develop energy solutions that align with state policy goals and reliably serve our customers.”

The company plans to file an application with the Virginia State Corporation Commission in spring 2025. In addition, Appalachian Power plans to apply for part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s $900 million grant program to accelerate the deployment of SMRs and help reduce customer costs.

Earlier this year, Virginia’s House and Senate both approved different versions of legislation that were meant to advance the deployment of SMRs in the state. HB 1491 allows Appalachian Power to request to incur project development costs prior to filing an application for a certificate to construct an SMR facility. SB 454 permits Dominion Energy Virginia to petition the State Corporation Commission at any time for the approval of a rate adjustment clause for the recovery of project development costs for up to one SMR facility. The bill, which originally was intended to include Appalachian Power/AEP, also permits the utility to petition the Commission for project development cost recovery along separate development phases.

In 2023, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed multiple bills into Virginia law intended to promote the development of SMRs. One law, from identical HB 2386 and SB 1464 bills, created the Virginia Power Innovation Fund. Money from the fund would be used solely for research and development of innovative energy technologies, including nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture and utilization, and energy storage. The law also created the Virginia Power Innovation Program, using funds to establish a Virginia nuclear innovation hub and award competitive grants to support energy innovation.

Another bill signed by the Governor (HB 1779) established a fund for awarding competitive grants to any Virginia public or private university that seeks to establish or expand a nuclear education program. This is defined in the bill as an instructional program that leads to a degree or credential that specifically supports the nuclear power industry, including nuclear engineering and nuclear welding.

Over the summer, Dominion Energy Virginia issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from nuclear technology companies to evaluate the feasibility of developing an SMR at the company’s North Anna Power Station in Louisa County, Virginia. While Dominion stressed the RFP is not a commitment to build an SMR at North Anna, the company said it is an important first step in evaluating the technology and the North Anna site.