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Supervisors approve up to $150,000 study of water infrastructure tied to proposed Dominion Energy plant
Summary
Cumberland County supervisors voted to authorize up to $150,000 for engineering studies of water and wastewater infrastructure related to the proposed Dominion Energy power plant, with a board member stressing the county will seek written reimbursement before disbursing funds. Public comment urged caution about using county water resources.
The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize appropriation of up to $150,000 to fund engineering studies for the Cumberland Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project as presented by the Timmons Group. The motion, read into the record by the chair, conditions the appropriation on execution of a reimbursement agreement and related contracts before county expenditures are made.
A board member said the funding is intended to produce facts and that Dominion Energy will be asked in writing to reimburse the county for the study costs before any check is cut: "we're not going to cut them a check until Dominion agrees that they will reimburse and reimburse us these costs," the board member said. Multiple members emphasized that the appropriation is a step to determine what water and wastewater treatment would look like for the proposed project and for future county use, not final approval of any plant or system connection.
Public speakers during the same item raised concerns about where the plant would source its water and whether county rights‑of‑way or systems would be tied into corporate contracts. One resident told the board, "They said they will use 800,000 gallons per day," and urged supervisors to keep the county's water under local control and avoid long‑term entanglements with private operators.
The board recorded the motion and a second; the item will be executed under the terms described and staff will return with contracts and any reimbursement agreements for further action.
