Battery storage land in Danville Utilities’ service area

Use the electric service area and property jurisdiction separately

Danville Utilities describes an electric territory covering Danville, the southern third of Pittsylvania County and small portions of Henry and Halifax counties. A utility name therefore does not identify the office that reviews land use for every property it serves.

If there is electric service on the property, tell the project team which utility is on the electric bill. If there is no service, provide the location and say so. A mailing address, gas account or nearby power line should not be the basis for a connection assumption.

Ask the team to identify the parcel’s actual city or county and the review route for the proposed equipment. Keep that answer separate from the utility’s connection process. Confirm which drawings and owner authorizations each office would receive.

For a working property, show existing entrances, buildings and occupants early. A connection route may use more space than the equipment footprint and may require rights across retained land or someone else’s property.

Ask whether the proposal is for peak demand or property backup

The City’s October 2022 announcement describes its first battery as energized and intended to reduce peak transmission and power-capacity costs. This is a dated operating example, not an offer for additional private land.

Ask the company what the proposed battery would do on your property. Would it supply the grid, serve an existing business or provide a separately designed backup arrangement? Have it explain who controls charging and discharge, and where the electricity would go.

If keeping a business running during an outage matters to you, make that explicit. Ask the team to identify the equipment, operating arrangement and approvals needed for that service. Do not treat the presence of batteries nearby as a promise that your building will stay powered.

Also distinguish your lease payment from the utility’s expected savings. A project can have a purpose in the electric system without providing a particular rent or reducing your own bill. Compare the actual private offer, including when payments begin.

Keep a planned project separate from a completed one

Danville’s adopted FY2026–2030 capital plan describes the 11 MW Mount Cross battery, a November 2024 Council approval and an April 2026 completion estimate, with further permits expected at the time of writing. The estimate does not establish that construction finished or the battery entered service.

If a company cites that project or another local installation, ask what the example proves about your offer. Is it explaining its experience, its intended buyer or the connection approach? Request the current records relevant to your site rather than relying on a neighboring project’s schedule.

Ask for a simple list of completed and remaining steps for the proposed project. Separate land rights, utility studies, permits, a service or purchase agreement, construction and permission to operate. A budget entry or public announcement should not stand in for those documents.

Compare that list with the time your land would be reserved. What progress updates would you receive? When can an option be extended, what is paid for more time and what happens if the project stops? Have the actual provisions reviewed before agreeing.

Identify each company and the rights it wants

A municipal utility, a battery developer and the company signing your land agreement may have different roles. Ask which entity pays you, which owns and operates the equipment, and who handles access, damage and removal. Use the names in the documents.

Put the equipment area, entrance, cable route and temporary work areas on one drawing. If you would offer only part of the property, show what you intend to retain. Ask how later changes require your agreement and whether any rights continue outside the paid area.

For a business or tenant site, discuss deliveries, parking, gates and emergency access together. Ask how investigation and construction would be scheduled around the existing use, and who responds if an entrance is blocked.

Check the arrangement if the project changes hands. Who remains responsible for rent, repairs and removal? Request a process for updated contacts and transfer notices so you know whom to reach years after signing.

Public funding or a utility contract does not explain every private obligation. Ask what protects your payments and restoration, what work is covered by any security and who can claim it. Have the public and private documents reviewed together.

Send the location and the question you need answered

Start with your name, email and phone, then the property location. Virginia is an editable starting selection; identify the actual county or independent city. Acreage and a parcel number are optional.

Tell us about the current use and whether you would consider a lease, sale or part of the property. Mention an existing offer, deadline, tenant or backup-power requirement that affects your decision. You do not need a finished battery plan to inquire.

Sunland can begin with the information you have and may follow up for a map or records. Sending the form does not grant entry, reserve the land or commit you to a transaction. The actual connection, design, permissions and commercial arrangement still need review.