Frequently asked questions

The Expedition Generating Station would generate up to 1,540 megawatts, enough to reliably power 1.5 million homes.

It is important to note that a natural gas power plant requires about 50 acres for operations. However, Tenaska typically acquires additional land for easements, construction laydown and buffer between adjacent properties. Tenaska is siting the Expedition facility – which is anticipated to generate up to 1,540 megawatts (MW) – on 50 acres within our 425-acre site.

In comparison, a solar project able to generate a comparable amount of power requires 30,000 to 40,000 acres.

A natural gas power plant provides more electricity – and more reliably – on a smaller footprint, in part because of its ability to generate power all hours of the day.

Tenaska has been a good business neighbor in Fluvanna County for more than 20 years. We have built positive relationships and feel like a welcomed and valued member of the community. The growing market demand for reliable power in this region and the existing infrastructure in Fluvanna County have created an opportunity for Tenaska to bring additional investment to this community. We look forward to working with the community to bring this project and its economic benefits to fruition.

The existing pipelines are currently being evaluated to determine the amount of available capacity. Existing lines will be utilized to the extent possible and new lines will be built as needed, utilizing existing rights-of-way to the maximum extent practical.

The Expedition Generating Station plans to use existing transmission infrastructure in the area. PJM, the regional grid operator, and the local utilities that own the transmission infrastructure will be responsible for making any changes to the transmission infrastructure in the area.

The plant is being designed to operate on both natural gas and diesel fuel. The plant would only operate on diesel fuel when required to do so by the grid operator, typically in emergency operation conditions such as a winter storm and for required testing. Diesel fuel is more expensive than natural gas and is more challenging from an operational perspective, but it does provide additional reliability and ensures we can provide power when it is most needed.

We anticipate keeping a four-day supply of diesel fuel on site.

Tenaska previously entered into contracts to secure all the long lead time equipment, including the combustion turbine generators, that is necessary to complete the project on the targeted schedule.

Tenaska prefers water cooling over air cooling for this facility, but we will utilize air cooling if sufficient water rights cannot be obtained to support wet cooling. Water cooling is quieter and requires less land, among other positive attributes.

Tenaska has not finalized an offtake contract for this project, as these types of agreements typically come later in development. There is a significant need in the market for natural gas projects like Expedition that can provide reliable energy and help meet increased electric demand in Fluvanna County and Virginia.

Tenaska has acquired a large amount of wooded property near the existing power plant for this new facility. As envisioned, the Expedition Generating Station would be situated on approximately 50 acres of the 425-acre site, providing ample setback and visual and sound buffer. Keep in mind that there is minimal view of the existing plant, given the tree line and topography of the location.

Tenaska has also acquired approximately 350 acres of land slightly to the south, which we intend to put into conservation as part of our development plan. We believe this will help preserve the rural character of this part of Fluvanna County.

The Expedition Generating Station would provide significant positive benefits to the community in terms of jobs, contractor opportunities and nearly $250 million in tax revenue that can support schools and other local services while helping to alleviate the residential tax burden. Tenaska has proven time and again to be a good business neighbor, supporting first responders, schools, students and other community needs.

We know that sound is a top concern for the community, and we are applying various types of sound mitigation features – including ample buffer land – to Expedition Generating Station. Tenaska is also acquiring additional land that will be put into conservation to help preserve the rural character of the area.

During construction, the project would have a robust traffic management plan to ensure roads are maintained, to reduce traffic congestion and to mitigate dust and other construction impacts.

Once operational, the project would be required to adhere to stringent standards that are protective of human health and the environment. These applications and any subsequent permits would be available to the public through the relevant regulatory body, which would hold Expedition Generating Station accountable for compliance.

Tenaska will manage the vegetative buffer with the goal of maintaining a healthy forest. We will work with the Virginia Department of Forestry to implement a forestry management plan, which will be overseen by an area forester.

We expect that the Special Use Permit with Fluvanna County would include a provision that would require the plant to be decommissioned and the site restored at the end of the facility’s useful life.

Impacts to wildlife are expected to be minimal. We will conduct various on-site environmental studies prior to the start of construction to understand and mitigate potential impacts on wildlife. The project will comply with all applicable state and federal permit requirements associated with wildlife, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additionally, the project’s air and water discharge permits will be protective of both human health and wildlife.

To bring the project to fruition, major permits prior to construction include but are not limited to:

• Special Use Permit (Fluvanna County)
• Virginia Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (State Corporation Commission)
• Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Air Quality Permit (Virginia DEQ)
• Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Water Discharge Permit (Virginia DEQ)
• Virginia Water Protection Permit (Virginia DEQ)

To bring the project to fruition, major permits prior to construction include but are not limited to:

• Special Use Permit (Fluvanna County)
• Virginia Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (State Corporation Commission)
• Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Air Quality Permit (Virginia DEQ)
• Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Water Discharge Permit (Virginia DEQ)
• Virginia Water Protection Permit (Virginia DEQ)

The local approvals are needed prior to advancing to state-level permitting. As such, we anticipate development to span at least two more years. Pending all the required permits, the earliest construction start would be in late 2027, with the earliest operations in late 2031.

Fluvanna County will determine how to use the tax revenue.

The Expedition Generating Station will follow a depreciation schedule as set by current applicable State Corporation Commission depreciation guidelines. The depreciated value over time was modeled in the Economic and Fiscal Contribution to Fluvanna County and to the State of Virginia by Mangum Economics.

The Expedition Generating Station is estimated to generate nearly $250 million in property tax revenue for Fluvanna County. This is just the property tax revenue for that project and does not include property tax revenue from Tenaska Virginia Generating Station, which has totaled $34.9 million to date.

Electric utility bills are determined by the utility, such as Central Virginia Electric Cooperative or Dominion Energy, and the State Corporation Commission. There are many factors that determine electric utility rates. In general, low-cost generation like natural gas will increase the supply of reliable electricity in Virginia and, therefore, is anticipated to be a positive factor in helping to stabilize energy pricing.

The Expedition Generating Station may attract other businesses to Fluvanna County based on the low-cost and reliable energy this project will bring to the county. The economic output during construction and operations will help support local businesses in Fluvanna County. Additionally, the significant tax revenue will help support strong public services and promote a stable fiscal outlook within Fluvanna County.

There are a number of factors that influence property values and the housing market. It has been our experience with other Tenaska projects of similar size and design that property values have not been negatively affected by plant operations. In fact, the jobs and increased tax revenue for the community typically have a positive impact on local schools and other amenities that factor into property values.

The presence of the Tenaska Virginia plant does not appear to have deterred housing growth. By our rough calculations, the number of homes within one mile of the plant has grown 35% between 2002 and 2024. Looking at the county as a whole, residential housing increased by 26% during the same time period.

Tenaska takes pride in hiring local when possible. Today, there are 29 employees at Tenaska Virginia, of which 19 live in Fluvanna County and 10 are graduates of area high schools. We expect the Expedition facility to provide 29 direct jobs. Job opportunities at the new facility will be posted closer to the start of operations.

At the start of operation of the Tenaska Virginia plant, there were 28 employees, of which 7 were from Fluvanna County and 21 from Virginia. Today, there are 29 employees, of which 19 live in Fluvanna County and 10 are graduates of area high schools.

Tenaska makes it a priority to ensure that local workers are utilized by our contractors to the maximum extent practical. Interested contractors and vendors can submit their information using our contractors and vendors form.

Tenaska will manage the unused portions of our project site under a forestry management plan overseen by an area forester. Under this plan, the existing pines will occasionally be thinned to allow for native hardwoods to replace them slowly over time. Doing this slowly, over a period of many years, will allow a continuous vegetative buffer around the facility to be maintained at all times to help reduce sound and visual impacts. Regarding the conservation parcels, Tenaska will work with the holder of the conservation easement, such as the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, to legally enforce the conservation requirements.

Our intent is to put the southern parcels into conservation. Based on local feedback, we are looking into the potential for walking or nature trails on this property.

Tenaska has acquired property via a purchase option agreement that provides the Expedition project with the exclusive right and option to purchase the property. This includes the main project property and the land that would be put into conservation easement.

This agreement has been recorded with Fluvanna County.

There are environmental justice components as part of the state permitting processes.

We have performed initial desktop EJ screenings, and we intend to perform a more formal analysis as part of our permitting and community engagement efforts for the air and wastewater discharge permits.

However, we have already been incorporating a variety of information channels in our outreach plan, including small group and community meetings, a website with comprehensive FAQs, a dedicated email address and phone number for the project, local advertising and direct mail.

Our team has had many conversations with Fluvanna County residents – both in group settings and individually. These conversations will continue over the lengthy development period and beyond. We have and continue to incorporate community feedback into our plans, as evidenced by the sound mitigation features being included in the Expedition Generating Station and Tenaska’s commitment to conservation land.

To date, our community outreach has included a project website with details about the proposed Expedition Generating Station, including a map, rendering and comprehensive FAQs; a dedicated project email address and phone number; advertisements in the local newspaper of record; interviews with local media outlets; email blasts (sign up here); direct mail; small group briefings; and a community open house.

Tenaska understands the importance of two-way communication about the project and the need to be responsive to questions. Information is available on our project website: expeditiongeneratingstation.com. At any time, questions can be directed to a member of our team via community@expeditiongenerating.com or 434-232-4005.

Additionally, there will be defined public comment processes as part of the various approvals needed for this project to move forward. Information will be publicized when those opportunities arise.

The Expedition Generating Station would provide significant positive benefits to the community in terms of jobs, contractor opportunities and nearly $250 million in tax revenue that can support schools and other local services while helping to alleviate the residential tax burden. Tenaska has proven time and again to be a good business neighbor, supporting first responders, schools, students and other community needs.

We know that sound is a top concern for the community, and we are applying various types of sound mitigation features – including ample buffer land – to Expedition Generating Station. Tenaska is also acquiring additional land that will be put into conservation to help preserve the rural character of the area.

During construction, the project would have a traffic management plan to ensure roads are maintained, to reduce traffic congestion and to mitigate dust and other construction impacts.

Once operational, the project would be required to adhere to stringent standards that are protective of human health and the environment. These applications and any subsequent permits would be available to the public through the relevant regulatory body, which would hold Expedition Generating Station accountable for compliance.

Our team has had many conversations with Fluvanna County residents – both in group settings and individually. These conversations will continue over the lengthy development period and beyond. We have and continue to incorporate community feedback into our plans, as evidenced by the sound mitigation features being included in the Expedition Generating Station and Tenaska’s commitment to conservation land.

To date, our community outreach has included a project website with details about the proposed Expedition Generating Station, including a map, rendering and comprehensive FAQs; a dedicated project email address and phone number; advertisements in the local newspaper of record; interviews with local media outlets; email blasts; direct mail; small group briefings; and a community open house.

To ensure the reliability of the electric grid amid the generation options available today, fossil fuels will need to be utilized. This facility will operate primarily on natural gas, the cleanest fossil fuel for dispatchable and reliable power generation.

The new plant will become operational only if it receives an Air Permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) stating it will meet stringent air quality standards under the U.S. Clean Air Act and VDEQ regulations.

The Clean Air Act establishes the process for protecting public health from air emissions. This is done through National Ambient Air Quality Standards that are based on criteria allowing for an adequate margin of safety and are requisite to protect the public health.

The primary NAAQS standards provide public health protection, including the health of ‘sensitive’ populations such as asthmatics, children and the elderly.

In 2024, the EPA under the Biden administration significantly strengthened the annual standard for PM 2.5. The new standard was widely praised by public health organizations.

The EPA Administrator certified that the new standard would protect – with an adequate margin of safety – the health of at-risk populations including children, older adults, those with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and minority populations.

VDEQ has a thorough permitting process that will require an analysis of air quality impacts to ensure that all applicable standards are met. Our facility will be designed, built and operated in compliance with these standards.

For its existing facility, Tenaska submits quarterly air emissions monitoring reports, semi-annual monitoring and deviation reports, annual compliance certification and annual emissions inventory to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. We also submit quarterly CEMS (Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems) data to the U.S. EPA. The Expedition plant would follow the same compliance protocols.

The new plant will become operational only if it receives an Air Permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) stating it will meet stringent air quality standards under the U.S. Clean Air Act and VDEQ regulations.

The Clean Air Act establishes the process for protecting public health from air emissions. This is done through National Ambient Air Quality Standards that are based on criteria allowing for an adequate margin of safety and are requisite to protect the public health.

The primary NAAQS standards provide public health protection, including the health of ‘sensitive’ populations such as asthmatics, children and the elderly.

In 2024, the EPA under the Biden administration significantly strengthened the annual standard for PM 2.5. The new standard was widely praised by public health organizations.

The EPA Administrator certified that the new standard would protect – with an adequate margin of safety – the health of at-risk populations including children, older adults, those with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and minority populations.

VDEQ has a thorough permitting process that will require an analysis of air quality impacts to ensure that all applicable standards are met. Our facility will be designed, built and operated in compliance with these standards.

For its existing facility, Tenaska submits quarterly air emissions monitoring reports, semi-annual monitoring and deviation reports, annual compliance certification and annual emissions inventory to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. We also submit quarterly CEMS (Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems) data to the U.S. EPA. The Expedition plant would follow the same compliance protocols.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is the agency that would issue a Prevention of Significant Deterioration Air Quality Permit, required prior to construction, and a Title V Operating Permit after commencement of operation. This agency has stringent requirements related to air quality and natural gas power plants that are intended to protect human health and the environment.

Expedition will be required to demonstrate:

• That it is employing Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to minimize emissions.
• That emissions from the plant will not cause off-property concentrations to exceed each of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) when including other specific surrounding sources and existing background concentrations.

For its existing facility, Tenaska submits quarterly air emissions monitoring reports, semi-annual monitoring and deviation reports, annual compliance certification and annual emissions inventory to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. We also submit quarterly CEMS (Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems) data to the U.S. EPA. The Expedition plant would follow the same compliance protocols.

Byproducts of natural gas combustion include nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. The amounts of these by-products will be included in the air permit application.

Air quality impacts will be assessed via the air permit application, which will include extensive modeling to predict ground-level concentrations of numerous pollutants from not only Expedition but from other surrounding sources (including the existing plant) as well as monitored background concentrations. The cumulative concentrations will then be compared to ambient standards, which are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be protective of human health and the environment. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) will spend months reviewing the application and will issue a permit only if all requirements are met.

Expedition will be required to demonstrate:

• That it is employing Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to minimize emissions.
• That emissions from the plant will not cause off-property concentrations to exceed each of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) when including other specific surrounding sources and existing background concentrations.

Air quality impacts will be assessed via the air permit application, which will include extensive modeling to predict ground-level concentrations of numerous pollutants not only from Expedition but from other surrounding sources (including the existing plant) as well as monitored background concentrations. The cumulative concentrations will then be compared to ambient standards, which are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be protective of human health and the environment. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will spend months reviewing the application and will issue a permit only if all requirements are met.

Our existing facility has an exemplary compliance record. Tenaska submits quarterly air emissions monitoring reports, semi-annual monitoring and deviation reports, annual compliance certification and annual emissions inventory to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. We also submit quarterly CEMS (Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems) data to the U.S. EPA. The Expedition plant would follow the same compliance protocols.

To ensure the reliability of the electric grid amid the generation options available today, fossil fuels will need to be utilized. This facility will operate primarily on natural gas, the cleanest fossil fuel for dispatchable and reliable power generation.

The new plant will become operational only if it receives an Air Permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) stating it will meet stringent air quality standards under the U.S. Clean Air Act and VDEQ regulations.

The Clean Air Act establishes the process for protecting public health from air emissions. This is done through National Ambient Air Quality Standards that are based on criteria allowing for an adequate margin of safety and are requisite to protect the public health.

The primary NAAQS standards provide public health protection, including the health of ‘sensitive’ populations such as asthmatics, children and the elderly.

In 2024, the EPA under the Biden administration significantly strengthened the annual standard for PM 2.5. The new standard was widely praised by public health organizations.

The EPA Administrator certified that the new standard would protect – with an adequate margin of safety – the health of at-risk populations including children, older adults, those with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and minority populations.

VDEQ has a thorough permitting process that will require an analysis of air quality impacts to ensure that all applicable standards are met. Our facility will be designed, built and operated in compliance with these standards.

Tenaska can’t speak to what President Trump intends to do.

What we can tell you is that Tenaska has an exemplary record of compliance. Our power plants operate at emissions levels far below the federal limits, and we do not intend to alter plant operations should NAAQS be revised.

Please note this chart that was shared last night. Modeling results from the Tenaska Virginia Generating Station’s air permitting process are shown here compared to the standards existing at the time that project was permitted and the current standards.

Tenaska Virginia’s contribution to air quality is shown in the middle column compared to the 2000 standards (4^th column) and the current standards (last column).

As shown, the results are all less than 15% of the applicable standard. These results do not include background or surrounding sources as the plant’s results were so low (i.e., below the Significant Impact Levels) that modeling of surrounding sources was not required. PM_2.5 was not evaluated in 2000, given the PM₁₀ Surrogate Policy in effect at the time, but the PM₁₀ results can be compared to the PM_2.5 standards as all particulate matter emitted from natural gas combustion are considered to be both PM₁₀ and PM_2.5.

Preliminary studies have been completed. Impacts to wildlife are expected to be minimal and would be mitigated as required (which could include performing certain construction activities during specified times of year to avoid impacts). The project will comply with all applicable state and federal permit requirements associated with wildlife, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In addition, Tenaska has acquired 350 acres of land slightly to the south of the proposed project site that we intend to put into conservation as part of our development plan.

As part of an air permit application, the county will need to sign documentation that the project meets applicable local ordinance requirements.

Superficial claims regarding the plant and local cancer cases are ridiculous and defamatory.

The Clean Air Act includes National Ambient Air Quality Standards to protect residents from health impacts – including cancer – from power plants and other sources. The standards are set by public health and other experts through a rigorous process and that contain a sufficient margin of safety.

Further, Expedition will be categorized as a minor source of hazardous air pollutants under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act.

There will likely be at least three public participation opportunities. Tenaska will be required to hold an informational briefing after application submittal. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) will hold a public briefing once the draft permit is available and then will hold at least one public hearing during the comment period. All of these will be local.

Safety is of utmost importance to Tenaska, and we work hard to design a safe plant that is protective of the employees, residents and wildlife. This has been demonstrated through the safe operation of the Tenaska Virginia facility, as well as the safe operations of the entire Tenaska fleet, which encompasses 7,700 megawatts of generation.

Employees at Tenaska Virginia have received dozens of awards from the National Safety Council, and the plant has been certified (and re-certified) as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Worksite by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration – a recognition obtained by only 0.03% of work sites (3 in every 10,000), demonstrating our strong safety culture.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has requirements related to air quality and natural gas power plants, including compliance with ambient air quality standards. Our facility will be designed, built and operated in compliance with these standards, which are intended to be protective of human health and the environment.

The facility will primarily use chemicals for emissions control, cooling systems, lubrication and water treatment. Ammonia is injected into the Heat Recovery Steam Generator to reduce air emissions. Water treatment chemicals include chlorine and dechlorinator, as well as chemicals to control the pH of the water and prevent scaling. Hydrogen is used for generator cooling, and glycol is used in some of the smaller plant heat exchangers. Lubricating oils are used in rotating equipment, and fuel oil is stored on site for emergency operation.

The plant would be required to submit a chemical inventory annually to the state emergency response commission, the local emergency planning committee and the local fire department that would respond to any chemical emergency.

Safety is always our top priority, and Tenaska’s existing facility has been recognized by U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star site, a recognition obtained by only 0.03% of work sites (3 in every 10,000), demonstrating our strong safety culture.

Safety is a priority. Employees at the plant are trained to respond to emergency situations that could arise. Additionally, the plant routinely holds on-site training drills with local first responders, which ensures appropriate response plans are developed and practiced. In addition, these training drills offer opportunities for local first responders to practice their skills for the benefit of the community. While there have been many training drills at the plant, no major emergency response has been required.

We will be required to meet security standards, most notably those from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation – Critical Infrastructure Protection, which we call NERC CIP. This is a set of security standards designed to protect the electric grid, including plants like ours, from cyber and physical threats. One of the key cybersecurity aspects of a plant like ours is that it is isolated from the Internet, so a hacker simply cannot reach our systems. We also have physical deterrents such as fencing and 24/7 monitoring.

A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is commonplace in economic development, typically when two parties engage in an initial discussion about the potential for economic investment. This allows for questions and feedback early in the process, when the developer is formulating plans and doesn’t yet have all the information needed to commit to a project or to make a project public. This type of NDA before a project goes public is common practice in Fluvanna County and in localities exploring potential large-scale economic development projects all over the country. It is important to note that an NDA must be signed and agreed to by both parties.

There are 29 employees at the existing Tenaska facility, the majority of which live in Fluvanna County and are part of the community. When it comes to development, Tenaska often hires a community representative to further enhance two-way communication. Given our existing connections in the community, we have not yet done that. If and when we do so, that person would need to disclose that they work for Tenaska. Tenaska has hired Richmond-based Capital Results to help support its community engagement efforts for the Expedition project. Their personnel have and do explain their consulting role on the project.

Yes, the facility will use evaporative cooling at the gas turbine inlets to increase plant efficiency as well as plant output during times of warm weather. The total water usage of evaporative coolers when in operation is 1-2% of the overall water usage.

Impacts to wildlife are expected to be minimal. We will conduct various on-site environmental studies prior to the start of construction to understand and mitigate potential impacts on wildlife. The project will comply with all applicable state and federal permit requirements associated with wildlife, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additionally, the project’s air and water discharge permits will be protective of both human health and wildlife.

In addition, Tenaska has acquired 350 acres of land slightly to the south of the proposed project site that we intend to put into conservation as part of our development plan.

Tenaska will not manage the conservation parcels or additional lands used by the plant for timber income. The primary intent of these lands is to preserve the rural character of the area and to provide vegetative buffer. Tenaska will develop, with the assistance of an area forester, a forestry management plan that will ensure that a healthy forest is maintained. As part of this plan, and under the advice of the forester, existing pines are occasionally thinned so that they can be replaced slowly over time by native hardwoods. Maintaining a vegetative buffer around the facility with a healthy forest, slowly transitioning over time to a native hardwood forest, is our primary forest management goal.

The power plant itself will not be connected to the Internet for cybersecurity reasons. Internet is provided to employees for company use, such as emails, reports and other work purposes – similar to how offices use the Internet. We have not yet started to talk with Internet providers in regard to the Expedition facility.

Expedition’s Special Use Application, including site layout, visual simulations and sound studies, did account for a taller stack height.

Due to county ordinance, a different process is required to increase the stack height.