YORKTOWN — Capt. Dan Patrick, Commanding Officer of Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown and Dominion Energy Virginia’s President, Edward Baine convened Friday morning onboard the installation for a historic Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing.
The treaty-style signing event allows York County’s largest employer, NWS Yorktown, the U.S. Navy and Dominion Energy Virginia to formally collaborate and illuminate the path forward to bring a reliable, resilient and responsible energy source to the installation. These energy sources include a natural gas plant, solar farm, energy storage and transmission options and even a Small Modular Reactor (SMR).
The morning signing event was attended by sailors and civilian leadership assigned to the installation, along with a large contingent of key stakeholders from Dominion Energy Virginia. During official remarks, Capt. Dan Patrick noted the need for energy dominance as it relates to national security. There was also a mention of the installation being at a critical time in history where the mechanisms to illuminate a path forward towards siting advanced nuclear power options, including a SMR are favorable.
He also hinted at the growing need for energy across multiple tenant commands across the installation, which in turn provides critical munitions support and ordnance to the vast majority of warships and assets across the U.S. Navy on the East Coast. The installation is also a critical logistics and supply hub, which also fuels the growing need for reliable energy. In short, the installation’s bold energy dominance plan, which commences with this morning’s MOA signing, ensures that if contingencies happen, NWS Yorktown will have the lights and power across the installation and in the surrounding communities. This, in turn, allows the sailors and service members assigned to the installation to successfully execute a variety of missions across the globe and prevail across multiple domains.
Following a short round of applause were brief remarks by Edward Baine, Dominion Energy Virginia’s President. He noted the importance of mutual collaboration with the community and its customers, including military installations.
“As a public service company, we realize that we cannot do this task alone. We rely on partnerships with others, and we recognize our role within the communities that we serve,” said Baine. “We are committed to exploring innovative energy solutions to our customers and supporting the needs of Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. Together we will explore the assess the feasibility of siting new power generation assets on or near Navy property to maximize land use and infrastructure. Together, we will explore the range of technologies that best suit the needs of the Navy and the community, whether it’s renewables, battery storage, gas plants and even advanced emerging technologies like Small Modular Reactors,” said Baine.
“In closing, let me say this. The men and women of our armed forces have never let this country down and Dominion Virginia Energy will never let them down. Together we will build a stronger, more resilient future,” concluded Baine.
Thereafter, both parties signed the MOA to a hearty round of applause from both sides of the conference room.
NWS Yorktown’s historic MOA signing follows closely aligned collaborations with Dominion Energy Virginia at other installations. A similar MOA was signed with leadership at Fort Gregg Adams, a sprawling U.S. Army Garrison near Petersburg, Virginia in late 2024. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Energy announced late last year that several Virginia military installations were being considered for small, shore-based nuclear facilities to power their operations, ensure energy resilience and provide power to the surrounding communities. According to the Virginia Department of Energy, those sites considered as of late last year were Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Marine Corps Base Quantico in Northern Virginia and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown.
