Chesapeake considers energy storage system, data center development prohibited on site

East Point Energy is advancing plans for the Mill Stone Energy Center, a battery energy storage system facility, in the Hickory area of Chesapeake, Virginia. The proposed facility, located at 1912 Centerville Turnpike South, is situated on a 112-acre parcel, with only 30 acres designated for development. The company plans to purchase the entire parcel and has committed, as a condition of its permit, to preserving the remaining land and explicitly prohibiting any future data center development on the property.

The energy storage system is designed to store electricity during off-peak hours and release it back to the grid during periods of high demand, such as heat waves or winter storms. Jeff Staples, a local resident with environmental experience, highlighted the project's benefits, noting it would have no emissions, minimal visual impact, and provide essential electricity. The Mill Stone Energy Center is scheduled for review by the Chesapeake Planning Commission on June 10, and if recommended for approval, it will proceed to the Chesapeake City Council for a final vote on July 21. Construction could commence as early as 2030 if the project secures all necessary approvals.