Cumberland County board authorizes negotiations with Dominion Energy, retains Gentry Locke and engineering services

The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on May 5, 2026 to authorize initial steps toward a possible power generating facility by Dominion Energy Virginia. The Board approved three actions: "That the Board of Supervisors retain Gentry Locke to provide legal services necessary for the Dominion Energy Virginia project;" authorize the County Administrator or designees to negotiate with Dominion regarding the location of a power generating facility "subject to final approval by the Board of Supervisors;" and authorize the County Administrator or designees to procure an engineering firm to determine infrastructure needs and costs for the project. The motion was made by Supervisor Eurika Tyree and seconded by Supervisor Robert Saunders, Jr., and carried unanimously.

Earlier in the meeting the Board entered a closed session to discuss personnel matters and to consult with legal counsel about the potential Dominion Energy project under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711.A.1 and § 2.2-3711.A.8. After reconvening, the Board adopted a certification stating, in part, that "only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed session." The minutes show no final site selection or engineering contract award was made at this meeting; the actions approved authorize staff to negotiate and to seek engineering analysis subject to future Board approvals.