Enviva to supply biomass for power plants in Virginia

WASHINGTON — Enviva LP, a manufacturer of processed biomass fuel in the United States and Europe that operates two wood pellet facilities in Mississippi, 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-megawatt coal burning peaking plants to 50-megawatt continuous power plants using biomass. Enviva will supply two of these plants, located in Southampton and Hopewell, Va.

Dominion’s application to convert the power stations is pending before the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

Washington-based Enviva says total annual production capacity will reach 750,000 metric tons by the end of 2011.