Dominion Energy Seeks Hydro Renewal Over Thousands of Forest Acres
Published Date: 1/21/2026
Notice
Summary
Dominion Energy and partners want to renew their big hydroelectric project in Virginia, covering thousands of acres including national forest land. The government is now reviewing the plan and asking the public to share their thoughts by March 16, 2026. This process helps make sure the project stays safe for the environment and local communities while keeping the lights on.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Recreation Areas Preserved and Expanded
If you visit the Bath County Pumped Storage Project in Virginia, the project includes and would continue to operate public recreation areas: a 49-acre upper recreation pond, a 26-acre lower recreation pond, and a campground with 30 RV campsites. Dominion also proposes to include three sediment ponds (about 103.5 acre-feet combined storage) inside the project boundary to protect Little Back Creek and to provide recreational access over the new license term.
Minimum Downstream Flow Requirements
The project must operate in compliance with the Virginia Water Protection Permit: under normal operations the lower reservoir's daily average release must be no less than the difference between 15 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the daily average release from the upper reservoir; the instantaneous lower-reservoir release must never be less than 10 cfs; and the instantaneous upper-reservoir release must never be less than 2 cfs. These flow rules apply to project operation in Bath, Highland, Augusta, and Rockbridge counties, Virginia.
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