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Board hears follow-up on Remington battery energy storage project; staff and fire officials found safety measures sufficient pending conditions
Summary
County staff and fire personnel visited an operational battery storage facility after a previous postponement and told supervisors the Remington site should be able to operate safely under industry safety protocols and local conditions.
Fauquier County staff told the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 11 they had visited an operational battery energy storage site to review fire prevention and safety measures after the board postponed action the prior month. The project under consideration would expand an earlier special‑exception approval to host a Remington battery energy storage system up to 100 megawatts; staff said the Remington proposal would be the largest Dominion has deployed to date.
Staff summary: County staff, the fire chief and a captain visited Dominion’s Midlothian dry‑bridge battery energy storage site and inspected enclosure layouts, a control room, and fire‑prevention systems. Staff reported that Dominion uses multiple prevention strategies, including individual cell monitoring for temperature and voltage with alarm thresholds set below thermal‑runaway levels, and that cells are tested before installation. Based on the visit and applicable federal, state and local standards and Dominion protocols, staff recommended the county proceed under a siting agreement and special‑exception permit with appropriate conditions.
Why it matters: The proposed Remington facility is described in staff remarks as approximately 100 MW made up of 174 containers (58 groupings). Supervisors noted the comparison with smaller operational facilities (15–20 MW) and sought assurances on fire safety and community impacts. The planning commission had unanimously recommended approval in June; to date the county had received at least one public comment cautioning about safety and environmental effects.
Board response: Several supervisors said Dominion had been responsive since the prior meeting; one supervisor noted the inspections and follow‑up meetings gave staff confidence about fire‑safety measures. Staff will return recommended permit conditions and the siting agreement language for final action; the transcript records staff recommendation but not a final vote.
