Clover Power Station, Halifax County, Virginia

One noteworthy example of ODEC environmental stewardship is our Clover Power Station, operated by Virginia Dominion Power since it went online in 1995. Of the $1.2 billion we spent on this station’s construction, nearly one third – around $400 million – went to advanced pollution controls for its two 441-megawatt pulverized-coal generation units.

Clover was the first base-load plant after the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 to begin operations. Today it remains one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the United States.

Consider the following highlights.

• The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) granted ODEC permission to use bottom ash instead of river sand for a combustion waste landfill drainage medium. That saved the expense of dredging and left the Roanoke River undisturbed.
• During construction, all waste materials (i.e. paint thinner, cardboard, metals, etc.) that could be recycled were, saving space in landfills or treatment at hazardous waste facilities.
• Clover’s wastewater treatment systems recycle water for reuse (primarily by the air pollution control scrubber system). The station's cooling towers use the same technology, which result in much less water being withdrawn from the Roanoke River.
• A $10 million water reservoir that holds 350 million gallons, or a 34-day supply, protects the Roanoke River when it’s low.
• By adding 882-megawatts to the power grid, Clover decreases dependence on older, less-clean generating plants.

ODEC and Dominion Virginia Power Combined Their Resources on the Following for the Clover Power Station

• As some 220 acres of storage yard became free during construction, we planted a mixture of lespedeza, switchgrass, pearl millet, buckwheat and ladino clover. Today, this managed wildlife area requires little mowing, retards erosion and supports a variety of thriving, indigenous species.
• We created approximately 36 acres of forested and wetland habitat to offset the impact of the plant’s construction and we converted an additional 16 acres of previous farmland into a wetland bank.
• For a visual screen to blend the station into its surroundings, we planted some 1,700 Eastern Red cedars, 300 Downey serviceberries, 300 Red Osier dogwoods, 1,000 Red maples and 1,000 American sycamores.
• We partnered with Ducks Unlimited and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to create 160-acres of waterfowl habitat on station property. It’s one of the largest managed Virginia waterfowl habitats west of Tidewater.
• In voluntary partnership with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, we donated 82.5 acres near the site of a Civil War fort to create the Staunton River Battlefield State Park. We paid for the park’s visitor center and funded the construction of two observation towers and a nature trail, which groups from the Virginia National Guard to local businesses, high school students and the Boy Scouts pitched in to build.
• We installed numerous bluebird, barn owl and wood duck houses to complement the plant and surrounding area’s natural nesting sites.
• To protect colonies of two plant species rare to Virginia, we set aside areas of station property for special management.

Clover Power Station

Community Tour of Clover Wetlands

Wetlands Inspection

Wood Duck House Installation