RICHMOND — The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has scheduled a public hearing for January 8, 2008, to consider a request by Dominion Virginia Power to construct and operate a “clean-coal” electric generation facility in Wise County, Virginia.

The proposed 585-megawatt power plant would use advanced technology designed to reduce air emissions and protect the environment. The estimated cost of the project is $1.62 billion. Located near St. Paul, Virginia, the plant would be operational by 2012.

Dominion Virginia Power’s application is in response to legislation enacted by the 2004 Virginia General Assembly, which encourages the development of a coal-fired generation facility that utilizes Virginia coal and is located in the coalfield region of the Commonwealth.

In 2007, the General Assembly enacted legislation that grants a utility that constructs such a facility the right to recover all costs. As an incentive to undertake such projects, the legislation also allows an enhanced rate of return during construction and the first 10-20 years of the facility’s service life.

In its scheduling order, the Commission directed the company to file additional cost information regarding the project or explain why the company believes it does not need to do so. The Commission cites as a basis for its request an earlier Virginia law that requires the Commission to find that generation facilities proposed for construction are “necessary to enable the public utility to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities at reasonable and just rates.”

The hearing is set for Tuesday, January 8, 2008, at 10 a.m. in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street. Persons interested in testifying should arrive early and sign in with the Commission bailiff.

The public may view the company’s application and related documents during regular business hours at the SCC’s Document Control Center, First Floor, Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond. Interested persons may also access a copy of the application through the SCC’s Docket Search portal at www.scc.virginia.gov/case/.

Written comments on the application may be submitted by December 14, 2007. All correspondence should be sent to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118, and refer to case number PUE-2007-00066.

Interested persons desiring to submit comments electronically may do so at the SCC’s website: www.scc.virginia.gov/case/. Click on the PUBLIC COMMENTS/NOTICES link and then the SUBMIT COMMENTS button for this case.

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Case numbers: PUE-2007-00068