Biomass plant successfully generates electricity in test

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative and NOVI Energy announce that the NOVEC Energy Production, Halifax County Biomass* (NEPHCB) plant that the two companies have been working on together near South Boston, generated its first electricity and connected to the PJM regional electric transmission grid on Sept. 11, at 11:11 a.m. during testing. The companies anticipate that pre-commercial-operation testing and inspection of plant systems will continue for several more weeks.

The $170 million NEPHCB generation station will generate up to 49.9 megawatts of renewable electricity for NOVEC customers. It is located on a 104-acre site in the Halifax County Industrial Park in Southern Virginia. NOVI Energy developed and is overseeing construction of the plant for plant owner NOVEC.

"We've been working on this project for three years," said Mike Dailey, NOVEC vice president of Energy and Business Development. "This successful synchronization with the power grid marks a major milestone in the development of the station and now sets the stage for commercial operation."

The plant will use waste wood leftover from logging operations in Southside Virginia as fuel. The wood fuel, chopped into small wood chips, will burn inside the boiler to create steam that will turn turbines and generate electricity.

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Sarah Johnson Joins Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities as West Coast Economic Development Director

Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities (MBC) announced today that Sarah Johnson has been selected as MBC's west coast Economic Development Director, based in Santa Clara.

Ms. Johnson will be responsible for promoting southern Virginia's competitive advantages to companies looking to expand or relocate to the east coast. Her strategic marketing and recruiting efforts will be focused on companies in the technology, advanced manufacturing, distribution and logistics, research and development, biotech and communications industries.

"We're excited to have Sarah join our team," said Tad Deriso, President & CEO of MBC. "Her background in business development is an asset that will further propel the southern Virginia region to attract companies interested in expanding their business on the east coast."

Prior to joining MBC, Ms. Johnson held numerous positions in business development including her role at United Kingdom Trade and Investment in San Francisco where she focused in renewable energy, clean tech and financial services sectors. She developed trade missions, assisted companies with expansion efforts into the United Kingdom and U.S., and coordinated visits for high-level government officials.

"I look forward to introducing companies on the west coast the opportunity to an alternative when it comes to expansion on the east coast," said Ms. Johnson. "Southern Virginia has a lot to offer, from the technological infrastructure to the pro-business environment and talented workforce. I'm ready to tell their story."

Marketing Southside from California

Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation is opening a California office, hoping to woo West Coast business to Southside Virginia.

The new office is in Santa Clara's Techmart Center. A listing from the commercial real estate company, Regus, says the building is adjacent to the Santa Clara Convention Center, which is "used extensively by the high-technology engineering, computer and microprocessor companies of Silicon Valley."

David Hudgins, chairman of MBC's economic development committee, said in a release: "Our regional industry clusters paired with advanced manufacturing make southern Virginia a perfect choice for west coast companies looking for expansion and production sites on the East Coast."

Tech businesses are a priority, but MBC will also be recruiting for Southern Virginia's target markets, including aerospace, motorsports, agribusiness, data centers, advanced manufacturing, natural and renewable energy production, food and natural products manufacturing, distribution and logistics, bio-technology, nuclear energy research and wireless communications.

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Institute steps up effort to market Southside

The Southern Virginia Regional Alliance and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research are forming a partnership to market Southside.

The organizations will share an economic development director, a position which will be filled by the alliances' executive director, Leigh Cockram.

"This opportunity has come at a perfect time, for the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance needs to stretch funding long term in order to be sustainable and the Institute needs someone who understands our regional assets and can market Institute's facilities for regional economic development purposes," Cockram said in a release.

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Students to be immersed into world of advanced manufacturing

What happens when talent finds resources? The answer is amazing things, according to the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center and Kyoger, an Iowa-based content strategy, production and consulting firm.

That's the premise behind the SVHEC and Kyoger partnering to host Maker's Focus Immersion Week for a group of talented students from Boone, Iowa.

The high school-aged students are participants in an Iowa-based program called Virtual Reality Education Pathfinders. Pathfinders is a program that gives students the knowledge and tools needed to design their own virtual programs, and to create 3D projects that are utilized as immersive virtual environments. Participating students have developed a high level of skill in 3D modeling, simulation, and computer-aided design, but have never had access to the advanced manufacturing technology that would take their concepts from the digital world to the physical one.

"Given our tremendous assets in advanced manufacturing, and our specialty in making things, we immediately saw an opportunity for collaboration," said David Kenealy, SVHEC director of research and development. "Aerospace pioneer Rockwell Collins, manufacturing software firm ITI Global and Kyoger have all joined with SVHEC and VREP to make the event possible."

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Green View Advanced Manufacturing Center moves forward

The IDA Board of Directors has awarded a contract to B&B Consultants for a $105,000 design contract for the $1.49 million Phase II renovations at Green View.

Green View, located in a former Daystrom Furniture building that once employed 1000 people, was purchased by the IDA in 2011.

The IDA purchased the building and replaced a portion of the roof in Phase I of the project.

Phase II will complete the roof repairs, while making general upfits to the front section of the building and necessary parking lot and façade improvements.

Construction is planned to be completed by December.

Rain moves out just before fun kicks in at SOLD OUT Cantaloupe Festival

There were no ripe Halifax County cantaloupes at the 33rd Annual Virginia Cantaloupe Festival at Berry Hill Resort on Friday, but a late-arriving crowd didn't seem to mind either that, the change in venue or the threat of rain from Tropical Storm Andrea.

A diverse gathering of all ages included those attending their first cantaloupe festival, others who had not been in years and still more who have attended at each of the festival's three venues, Berry Hill Resort, the Halifax County Fairgrounds and Wade's Farm.

Ward Reynolds, a Gladys resident, has been to cantaloupe festivals at all three locations since he first started coming in the early 70s, and each offered something a little different.

Friday's event wasn't the first time inclement weather has made an appearance, according to Reynolds, who recalled a number of occasions in the past where a number of festivalgoers got vehicles stuck in the mud.

"It rained and rained, and a number of vehicles got stuck (at Wade's Farm)," said Reynolds, who attended Friday's festival with Justin and Becky Reynolds, also multi-year attendees.

"It was more laid back at the farm, a different atmosphere, and it was a different crowd and different bands at the fairgrounds," Ward Reynolds noted.

"It seems like it's going to be a good setting here. The rain has kind of gone by, I believe, and everybody is going to have a good time. This is a good location, a good place."

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Refreshed festival sells out of tickets days before event

With a few days left until the 33rd Annual Virginia Cantaloupe Festival all tickets have been sold, according to Nancy Pool, president of the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce.

"I am just thrilled. I am very exhilarated by the sell out. I am just expecting this to be really fun and a new experience. The committee and I are very excited," Pool said.

Brandon Scearce, vice chairman of the festival committee, said the number of tickets sold was limited to 1,500. The sell out is the first in recent memory, organizers said.

The annual party is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the local chamber.

In a change of pace this year, the festival will be held at Berry Hill Resort on River Road in South Boston from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday. In recent years the party was held at the Halifax County Fairgrounds on sweltering July days.

"I believe that the people have spoken through ticket sales that they support our decision to change the date and location," Kimley Blanks, publicity chair for the festival, said.

"I am proud to have served on this committee with such wonderful and generous people," Blanks said. "We could not have done this without our sponsors and the festivalgoers."

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