Enviva LP has signed a contract with Richmond, Va.-based Dominion Virginia Power to supply biomass to two power facilities in southeast Virginia. In April, Dominion announced plans to convert three 63 MW coal burning peaking plants to 50 MW continuous power plants using biomass. Enviva will supply two of these plants, located in Southampton and Hopewell, Va.
In the last year, Enviva has rapidly expanded its operating footprint in the Mid-Atlantic region. This fall, Enviva’s flagship wood pellet plant in Ahoskie, N.C. will commence operations, producing up to 400,000 metric tons of wood pellets per year. The company also plans to develop a second wood pellet facility in nearby Northampton County and has formed a partnership with Biomass Energy to operate its Bumpass, Va.-based wood chip and pellet manufacturing facility. Wood pellets from these facilities ship out of the company’s deepwater port facility in Chesapeake, Va.
Enviva also operates two wood pellet facilities in Mississippi. The company’s total annual production capacity will reach 750,000 metric tons by the end of 2011. As a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified company, Enviva will source the woody biomass from local suppliers who practice sustainable, responsible forest management.