Virginia’s “green” future may lie inside of a small office in Ashland.
It is empty for now, but starting early next year the Dominion Resources GreenTech Incubator will be open to new companies starting out in the alternative energy and clean technology sectors.
The incubator will provide assistance with research, financial services, business planning and office space for startups as well as international companies looking to locate to the United States.
Last week, county and town officials, representatives from Dominion and other invitees attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the more than 8,000-square-foot office space located at 319 Business Lane.
Dominion has dedicated $50,000 a year to the incubator for the next five years. Combined, the Town of Ashland and Hanover County have dedicated $500,000 over the next five years.
The incubator will be managed by the Virginia Biosciences Development Center, which has managed the incubator at the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park downtown for the past 13 years. Executive director of the VBDC David Lohr will also serve as executive director of the GreenTech Incubator.
“[The GreenTech Incubator] is a logical expansion of our business incubator model,” Lohr said. “We saw an opportunity to take our program and help a new industry.”
Lohr said he will meet with interested companies. Those that show promise will be invited to fill out a formal application, which is evaluated by a selection committee. Incubator members pay rent for the space and a monthly maintenance fee and issue warrants to the incubator between 1 percent and 3 percent.
Thomas F. Farrell, chairman, president and CEO of Dominion, delivered remarks regarding the company’s interest in funding such a program.
“Finding better energy alternative is not an option for us — it is a priority,” said Farrell.
Earlier this year Dominion created a new division named Alternative Energy Solutions to study new technologies such as smart-grid distribution, hybrid vehicles and electric storage technology.
“If a new technology has potential, it has Dominion’s interest,” Farrell said.
Related:
http://scfoj.tumblr.com/post/292074308/bill-oreilly-on-solar-the-factor-goes-haywire
I wonder how many Virginia politicians think of solar the same way as Bill O’Reilly.
Virginia already has the oldest schools in the country. How about renovating some roofs, and while at it, adding solar? Other states are already doing this- New Jersey, for example.