J-POWER USA Development Co. Ltd. and funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC have agreed to jointly pursue the development of Birchwood Solar, a 50 MW AC solar plant, and Birchwood Storage, a 190 MW AC energy storage facility, located in King George, Va.
The projects would convert Birchwood Power, a coal plant that has been in operation since November 1996, into facilities that will generate and store clean renewable energy. Birchwood is J-POWER USA’s third solar project in development and part of its new initiative to add renewable generation to its existing portfolio.
“This is an exciting opportunity to take a former coal plant site and transform it into a clean energy facility,” says Mark Condon, president and CEO of J-POWER USA. “This project is part of J-POWER USA’s plan to increase our renewable portfolio and continue our efforts to build a sustainable energy future.”
J-POWER says the project benefits from its existing transmission infrastructure, which will be used for the new solar+storage generation – enabling the company to continue its long-term partnership with the local community. With the decommissioning of Birchwood Power, J-POWER USA’s only coal-fired plant, its portfolio will consist exclusively of clean natural gas and renewable energy.
Photo: Mark Condon
