LOUISA, VIRGINIA – Today, at a ceremonial bill signing of SB 454, Dominion Energy Virginia announced it has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from leading SMR nuclear technology companies to evaluate the feasibility of developing an SMR at the company’s North Anna Power Station in Louisa County, Va. While the RFP is not a commitment to build a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at North Anna, it is an important first step in evaluating the technology and the North Anna site to support Dominion Energy customers’ future energy needs consistent with the company’s most recent Integrated Resource Plan.

State leaders at the event emphasized the bipartisan nature of the legislation that essentially allows Dominion Energy Virginia to preform preliminary development work on SMRs and underscored the benefits that SMR development represents, including the lower upfront capital cost and scalability. With speakers enthusiastic about the early development work, they noted if built, SMRs will bring more reliable and clean power to the electric grid. “Virginia stands at the threshold of this very exciting and transformative era,” said Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears in her remarks. “Our energy needs, ladies and gentlemen, are growing and so too are our opportunities.”

SMRs harness nuclear fission to generate heat and produce energy like their full-size nuclear unit counterparts and are widely considered the next generation of carbon-free nuclear power in the United States. “Though the parts are factory-made and modular, SMRs represent reliability like traditional nuclear power,” said Louisa County Economic Development Director Andy Wade. “Their scalability and small footprint will allow us to effectively meet the growing projected local power demands.”

“While there is no commitment to build an SMR at North Anna as of today, we do know siting SMRs on an existing power station property allows for interconnection to the grid and access to a trained workforce,” said Louisa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Duane Adams. “Hopefully an SMR will soon call Louisa home.”