CC leaders agree to exploration of land for possible electrical facility

Charles City’s Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to allow a company to examine 88 acres of county-owned land to potentially bring an electrical facility to the area.

During a June 11 public hearing, supervisors authorized an 18-month no-cost option to be granted to NE Land Development LLC. According to county administrator Zach Trogdon, the buyer is planning to develop a combined-cycle electrical megawatt generation facility that utilizes natural gas. The facility would be located on Roxbury Road (Route 106) near the county’s industrial park.

“Right now, we don’t have too many details but we do know it would be used by a lot of areas and not just Charles City alone,” said Trogdon. “The property they are looking at is in compliance with the zoning and land-use regulations and if the option is exercised by the buyer, terms of the sale required the development to begin with 24 months of closing.”

According to the county administrator, addition of the facility would generate revenue for the county. If the buyer agrees to purchase the land, it would result in completion of a $300 million facility within six years.

“Right now they are in the 18-month exploration process, but we believe that they will find the area suitable for their needs,” Trogdon concluded.