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New Era for Nuclear
in Virginia
Nuclear energy would generate more of Virginians’ energy and help lower carbon emissions in the commonwealth if a series of new facilities under consideration move forward.
The new facilities, which could include microreactors and small modular reactors, are being evaluated by both of Virginia’s investor-owned electric utilities and the U.S. Department of Defense. Recent announcements include:
- Dominion Energy’s evaluation of a new small modular reactor at its North Anna nuclear complex and its partnership with Amazon to meet data center power demands.
- OOP’s announcement that it is exploring whether to site a small modular reactor near SOMEWHERE.
- The Navy’s request for information about privately-owned and operated nuclear generation at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach; Naval Weapons Station Yorktown; Marine Corp Base Quantico and in King George County along the Potomac River.
Nuclear in Virginia
Nuclear power already accounts for about 31 percent of Virginia’s in-state electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It is the commonwealth’s second largest power source, following only natural gas, which accounts for 54 percent of Virginia’s in-state electricity generation. Solar, biomass and other renewables accounted for 11 percent, followed by coal at 4 percent.
Virginia is also home to the world’s largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk, which includes numerous nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. The U.S. Navy operates 99 nuclear reactors and 79 nuclear-powered warships.
Why Nuclear?
The Virginia Clean Economy Act, passed in 2020 and signed by Gov. Ralph Northam, imposed new requirements for Virginia’s utilities to phase out coal-fired generation and rely more on renewable energy sources, and for the State Corporation Commission to consider the social cost of carbon when evaluating applications for new energy generation facilities.
Advocates for nuclear have argued it is the nation’s largest source of clean electricity and accelerating greater adoption will help lower emissions while reliably meeting growing demand, regardless of weather conditions. Opponents have argued for eliminating nuclear energy altogether by raising concerns about safety, nuclear proliferation and storage of nuclear waste.
