The planned fusion power plant in Chesterfield cleared the county’s final zoning hurdle on Wednesday after receiving approval from the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors.
ARC — called the world’s first grid-scale commercial fusion power plant — will be built, owned and operated by Massachusetts-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems and will be located at 1201 Battery Brooke Parkway.
“A few months ago, few people knew what fusion was, including myself,” said Ann Neil Cosby, a land use attorney representing CFS. “Now, Chesterfield County, Virginia, is poised to become a leader in the commercial advancement of this new energy technology.”
The plant will be built to generate 400 megawatts of electricity. CFS estimates that the plant will go online in the early 2030s.
CFS is privately funding the multi-billion-dollar project, which is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the greater Richmond region.
“It will give an opportunity for workforce development, for not only our normal workforce development — young people coming through — but also our veterans and our mid-career changers that will come through as well,” Karen Webb, president & CEO of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, said.
Dominion Energy Virginia, which owns the 94-acre property, is leasing the site to CFS for the project. Dominion is also collaborating with CFS by providing development and technical expertise.
With the conditional use permit obtained by CFS, the site’s use will be limited to the fusion power plant and accessory uses.
The plant will take up 25 to 40 acres and include a power building, cooling towers, storage tanks, overhead power lines, a switchyard, an administration building and a maintenance facility.
Ben Byboth, director of business development strategy for CFS, said the steam produced from the plant will be cooled by an air-cooled condenser, which will require 400,000 gallons of water per day from the county.
The project includes a $1 million grant from the state-run Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank, as well as another $1 million grant from Chesterfield County.
While the Board of Supervisors acknowledged some of the skepticism about the new technology, the board also expressed confidence and excitement about being at the forefront of fusion.
“We have everything to gain from this and nothing to lose,” Matoaca District Supervisor Kevin Carroll said. “If this technology works, it will be the cleanest, greenest energy generation known to man.”