A proposed energy project that could create more than 100 full-time jobs in King George County has received
The grant could mean new life for a 45-acre greenhouse complex near the Birchwood power plant and King George landfill off State Route 3. Colorado-based Sun Valley Farms had grown more than 10 million pounds of hydroponic tomatoes a year at the greenhouse, which closed in August 2007.
Mark Toigo, whose Shippensburg, Pa.-based Toigo Orchards grows an array of produce and sells various jarred food products, applied for a grant through Virginia's Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy to build a heat recovery steam generator at the King George Landfill. The steam would be piped into the greenhouse to heat the sprawling complex.
The project would cost $19.1 million, according to Toigo's grant application. It is unclear whether the project will go forward even with the $1 million grant. Mark Toigo could not be reached for comment.
Officials with Waste Management, which operates the King George landfill, said they couldn't comment on the project, citing confidentiality agreements. Waste Management is now building a $12.4 million power plant at the King George landfill to turn trash into energy.
The 242-megawatt Birchwood plant is jointly owned by J-Power USA Development Co. Ltd. and an affiliate of General Electric Energy Financial Services. The coal-fired plant sells electricity to Dominion Virginia Power.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules had required Birchwood to provide steam to a "thermal host" for productive use, but that requirement ended in early 2007. Birchwood stopped providing the steam to the greenhouse complex that year, and it was shut down.
The GE affiliate continues to own the greenhouse. Birchwood Business Manager Julie Caiafa said yesterday that the company is discussing the sale of the greenhouse with a possible buyer, but said she couldn't get into specifics because of a confidentiality agreement. The GE affiliate did not apply for the grant and will not receive any of it.
Toigo is interested in using the greenhouse to grow produce and has been searching for ways to generate the energy needed, said King George Economic Development Director Nicole Thomp-son. She said the project, if
The $1 million grant was one of 15 announced yesterday by Virginia's governor's office. The 15 biomass and waste-to-energy grants totaled $10 million and could support $110 million in private investments.
The state's Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy administers the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for energy-related projects, which have been a focal point of Gov. Tim Kaine's "Renew Virginia" initiative.
The King George grant was one of four for $1 million, the highest amount announced yesterday. Also announced was an $827,102 grant to Community Energy Independence toward a $50 million project to complete the engineering, permitting and project development for a landfill gasification project at the Corral Farm Landfill in Fauquier County.
Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com