SCC Accepts Dominion’s IRP Refiling, Improves Requirements for Future Plans

RICHMOND, Virginia – Today, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) accepted Dominion Energy’s refiled Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), after rejecting it in its entirety in late 2018. The SCC is also requiring several changes in future plans, including an update due in September, that will more accurately assess the costs and benefits of energy options, such as: 

• Battery storage, using the most updated cost estimates available

• Compliance with climate pollution limits through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

• Gas transportation costs

• Solar power purchase agreements as 25% and 50% of the solar generation capacity 

• Estimating capacity value for future solar PV tracking resources by using past performance or 25%, higher than the 23% used previously

Half of Dominion’s revised plans that were accepted by the SCC incorporated the limits on climate pollution approved by the State Air Pollution Control Board in April. Those plans indicated that the Chesterfield and Clover coal plants should be replaced by 2025.

Kate Addleson, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Director responded with the following:

"We’re pleased to see the SCC requiring that Dominion do better analysis of clean energy options in future plans. Virginians know that increased renewable energy means lower bills, local jobs, healthier communities, reliable energy and a stable climate. Virginia businesses have shown their support for clean energy alternatives, now it’s time for Dominion to put a real plan forward to replace expensive, dirty fuels with clean energy.”