Energy Storage in Virginia
Roxbury Energy Storage
The Roxbury storage project is a proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) on agricultural land south of Union Road, near the Skipjack Solar substation in Charles City County, Virginia. This 295 MW AC / 1,180 MWh facility will strengthen grid reliability for the region, building on AES' established presence in Charles City County through the neighboring Skipjack and Keydet Solar projects.
The facility incorporates AES' advanced safety specifications, including layered battery management systems, gas detection, ventilation, and fire suppression designed to the latest NFPA 855 and UL 9540/9540A safety standards. The project will generate substantial tax revenue for the county, support local schools and public services, and create several jobs during construction and throughout the life of the project.
295 MW AC / 1,180 MWh battery energy storage planned capacity
Enough stored energy to power approximately the equivalent of 220,000 homes for 4 hours*
Located in
Charles City County, VA
Project updates
Our clean energy commitment
We believe in being a good neighbor, developing safe and reliable energy storage that supports grid stability while creating long-term value for the environment and local communities without burdening existing infrastructure
Economic and Environmental benefits
The project is expected to generate substantial economic and fiscal benefits for Charles City County. Construction is estimated to support approximately 37 total jobs (32 direct and an estimated 4 indirect), generating approximately $8.6 million in local economic output. Throughout the life of the project, operations are estimated to support approximately 2 to 3 long-term positions, generating approximately $1.2 million in annual local economic output.
Over its anticipated 25-year operational life, the project is estimated to generate approximately $20.3 million in cumulative county tax revenue from taxation of the land and capital investment — including approximately $1.5 million in county tax revenue during its first year of operations alone (2026 dollars).
Project details
- Sited on approximately 30 leased acres of agricultural land south of Union Road (with the BESS fenced acreage being approximately 18 acres)
- Site is located near the Skipjack Solar substation, adjacent to AES' existing Skipjack Solar project; total capital investment of approximately $366.5 million, with a 25-year operational life
- *Homes-powered calculation: Roxbury (295 MW / 1,180 MWh, a 4-hour duration system) delivers approximately 1.97x the total energy of a 150 MW / ~600 MWh reference system that powers 112,000 homes for 4 hours per the AES Homes Powered Calculation Tool. Scaling proportionally (112,000 x 1,180/600) yields approximately 220,000 homes. This estimate should be confirmed using the AES Homes Powered Calculation Tool directly before publication.
- AES will be the long-term owner and operator of the energy storage facility
- At the end of the project's life, a decommissioning plan allows for the land to return to agricultural use or other uses consistent with land-use policies at the time
Expected project timeline
2025-2028
Development, siting, permitting
2028-2029
Construction
2029
Operations
How clean energy benefits local communities
Long-term tax revenue to counties, towns and school districts
Job creation during construction and operation
Landowner income diversification, keeping land in the family
Local economic stimulus during construction
Affordable, reliable, locally produced clean energy
Partnering with communities for the future of clean energy
At AES, we understand that our success as a company is only as strong as our partnerships with the communities where we operate. That’s why we partner with communities, customers, state agencies, higher education, elected officials, and other key stakeholders to see how we can best work together to support sustainable social and economic development.
Local partnerships:
- Charles City Economic Development Market 5 — sponsorship for retail and community event space
- Charles City County Summer Concert Series — donations promoting community engagement and cultural enrichment
- QuickStart Children of Virginia — support for early childhood literacy programs, including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and BrightSTARS
- Chickahominy Indian Tribe Childcare & Development Program — local partner supporting early childhood literacy programming for tribal and county families
- Charles City High School — support for STEM education and student enrichment programs
Additional information
Safety and sustainability best practices
At AES, safety is our highest priority, and we’ve focused on improving lives for more than 40 years. As a leading innovator in energy solutions, sustainability is core to both our strategy and our culture. We are committed to responsible land use and incorporating sustainable best practices into the entire project lifecycle to build a more resilient future.
Environmental and technical studies
We conduct a series of studies that ensure our projects are thoughtfully and responsibly designed, including but not limited to:
, including but not limited to:
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
- Habitat Assessment Report
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Threatened and Endangered Species Consultation
- Noise Study – Completed by Ostergaard Acoustical Associates
- State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Process
Additional Resources
Meet your AES team
Jason Guarnera
Richard Lambert
Contact us
We appreciate your interest in AES’ Roxbury Energy Storage. Please contact us using the information below.