Clover Power Station
Because ODEC’s proposed power station is in the initial study and planning phases, very little definitive information about this potential facility is available at this time. However, ODEC has determined that if constructed, this facility will likely be similar to ODEC and Dominion Virginia Power (Dominion)’s Clover Power Station. Following is a brief history of the Clover Power Station and how it has benefited not only its local community, but much of Virginia as well.
History of Clover Power Station
When the two-unit, 848-MW, coal-fired power station went on line in the mid-1990s, the Clover Power Station became a model for generation facility excellence. Co-owned by ODEC and Dominion, ODEC was charged with building the station while Dominion assumed responsibility for its operations upon completion. Both organizations share the facility’s output.
The Clover Power Station is a base load facility that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure a reliable supply of electricity to homes, farms and businesses. Clover power is transmitted throughout Virginia and was intended to meet the steadily-increasing electricity needs of the Commonwealth’s growing population at the time. However, since the completion of this facility more than a decade ago, additional energy needs across the Commonwealth continue to emerge.
In addition to satisfying pre-existing energy demands and providing electricity that continues to be vital to Virginia’s economic growth, the Clover Power Station has provided a direct boost to local economies and will continue to do so for many years.
This facility is a shining example of an industry bringing together many pieces to create an efficient, reliable source of clean electricity, while providing an economic and environmental boost to the community in which the facility is located. It is with this mentality that ODEC is approaching its plans to satisfy the recently forecasted increase in energy demand over the next 10 to15 years.
Economic Impact
During construction, Clover Project employees’ payroll provided about $14 million to the region in purchases of goods and services. In the first year alone, the facility’s owners and builders awarded nearly $35 million in contracts to Virginia companies to provide equipment, materials and services to construct the Clover Power Station.
During peak construction of the facility – from late 1993 through the spring of 1994 – nearly 1,400 jobs were added. In keeping with the philosophy of community involvement, approximately 70 percent of the facility’s construction workers were from within 100 miles of the facility. The annual payroll for these workers was about $29.2 million. In addition to jobs created during the construction phase, nearly 200 long-term, full-time employees were hired to operate the facility.
From a tax contribution perspective, in the long run, the Clover Power Station will pay Halifax County about $3 million annually in local taxes. In addition the Clover Power Station has created a favorable economic climate by training a large and willing local workforce, re-establishing transportation corridors and ensuring a reliable supply of electricity.
