Plant Makes Special Donation to Pleasant Grove in Honor of Milestone
SCOTTSVILLE, Virginia – Employees at Tenaska Virginia Generating Station and members of the Fluvanna County community recognized a decade of safe, reliable operation at the plant’s 10-year anniversary celebration on Tuesday evening. The event was held at Pleasant Grove in Palmyra, where Tenaska Virginia presented a $2,500 donation toward the park’s amphitheater in honor of the milestone and in appreciation of the plant’s strong relationship with the community.
Approximately 85 elected officials, business and community leaders, and local contractors and vendors joined the 29 employees and their families. Jerry Crouse, vice chairman and CEO of Omaha, Nebraska-based Tenaska, and Plant Manager Robert Mayfield were among the Tenaska representatives participating in the program.
“Our plants are local businesses first, and the relationships we have with the community are key to our success,” Crouse said. “Tenaska Virginia works with local leaders to help maximize the benefits to the community while also ensuring the plant remains a competitive business and stable employer.”
Mayfield, who has managed the plant near Scottsville since it began commercial operation in 2004, joined Crouse and Community Relations Representative Len Gardner in presenting the gift to Pleasant Grove, a historic park owned by the county that today includes schools, trails, parks, ball fields and space for farmers markets and other community events.
“Whether the amphitheater is used for a wedding, sunrise yoga classes, awards ceremony for the Boy Scouts or any of our special events where music entertainment takes place, this contribution is going to help make many positive memories, along with providing another amenity our community can utilize when at the park,” said Jason Smith, director of Parks and Recreation for Fluvanna County, who accepted the donation.
Other speakers at the celebration included Virginia Sen. Tom Garrett, Virginia Delegate Lee Ware and Mozell Booker, chairperson of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors.
“It did not take long to realize what a jewel we had in our community,” Booker said, recalling the early days of the plant. “Tenaska was our community supporter. They were visible in the community, actively involved in all community functions. Everyone from young to the old was touched by Tenaska.”
At the celebration, employees were recognized for their commitment to safe and reliable power generation. Tenaska Virginia is certified as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Worksite – the nation’s highest safety designation – by the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program. VPP is an U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cooperative program administered by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. As of July, only 2,092 facilities out of more than 8 million nationwide qualified for the VPP Star designation; approximately 50 of those are in Virginia.
Employees were honored with three National Safety Council Awards for a perfect safety record in 2013, and leading trade magazine Combined Cycle Journal honored the plant this year for “a decade of excellence” in earning 19 Best Practices awards over 10 years.
Fueled by clean-burning natural gas, the 885-megawatt Tenaska Virginia can produce enough electricity to meet the needs of up to 885,000 homes. The plant’s power customer, Shell Energy North America (US), L.P., markets the electricity throughout Virginia and the regional power market.
The facility was developed, built and is owned by Tenaska Virginia Partners, L.P., which today is comprised of Tenaska, J-Power USA and Tyr Energy Inc./Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.
The plant is a top taxpayer in Fluvanna County. Through 2013, it has paid more than $15.7 million in property taxes. The plant also annually injects approximately $7.3 million into the area economy in the form of salaries and payments to local contractors and vendors.
In his address at the event, Crouse applauded employees, the majority of whom are military veterans and have worked at the plant since the start of operations, for their record of community service.
“Our employees stand shoulder to shoulder with their neighbors in contributing to local food drives, serving hot meals at churches and spearheading toy collection programs,” he said. “But if you ask our employees, they’ll tell you they don’t do it to win awards. They do it because they care about the community they live and work in. They care about their neighbors and friends. They are here to help. It’s who they are, and we are very proud of them.”
The plant supports local fire and law enforcement services. Employees also support numerous initiatives and programs designed to improve the quality of life in Fluvanna County, including food drives, the United Way and an extensive educational partnership with Fluvanna County elementary, middle and high schools.
Employees donate 2,000 hours annually to support local community and charitable projects, and hundreds of students receive mentoring and learning opportunities. To date, 64 students in Fluvanna and Buckingham counties have received $50,000 in college scholarships from Tenaska.
Employees were recognized in 2008 with the Virginia Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award and the Virginia Department of Education’s Region V Creating Excellence Award for involvement in local tutoring programs and support of career and technical education.
About Tenaska Virginia Partners, L.P.
Tenaska, an energy company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, formed Tenaska Virginia Partners, L.P. to build, own and operate the Tenaska Virginia Generating Station. Affiliates of Tenaska serve as the managing partner and operator.
Media Contacts:
Timberly Ross
Office: 402-691-9517
Mobile: 402-669-4073
tross@tenaska.com
Delette Olberg
Office: 402-691-9595
Mobile: 402-332-9380
dolberg@tenaska.com