WHEELABRATOR PORTSMOUTH
Retired 2024Biomass power plant
- Capacity
- 60 MW
- Primary fuel
- Biomass
- County
- Portsmouth city
- Operator
- WHEELABRATOR ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
- EIA plant ID
- 54998
- Coordinates
- 36.8086, -76.3029
WHEELABRATOR PORTSMOUTH, a retired 60 MW Biomass power plant in Portsmouth city, Virginia. It was retired in 2024, according to EIA-860.
How WHEELABRATOR PORTSMOUTH compares
It was retired in 2024 according to EIA-860, so it is not counted in Virginia's operating fleet.
Grid neighborhood
The nearest named substation is GOSPORT (230 kV), about 1.1 miles away; the closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 115 kV line owned by VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO, under 0.1 miles away. Another 2 operating power plants totaling 394 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is ELIZABETH RIVER POWER STATION (389 MW, Natural Gas).
Computed by Bywatts from HIFLD power plant, substation and transmission line records and EIA-860 retirement records; distances are straight-line. Sources and methodology
Weather peril exposure
WHEELABRATOR PORTSMOUTH is a retired 60 MW biomass power plant in Portsmouth city, VA, formerly operated by WHEELABRATOR ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS. Portsmouth city carries moderate modeled catastrophe exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index, scoring 2.4 of 5 at the 35th national percentile. Hurricane is the leading peril, rated Relatively Moderate by FEMA at the 86th percentile.
The Bywatts loss layer is calibrated to solar PV hardware, so it is not applied to a biomass plant. The ratings below are the FEMA National Risk Index county hazard ratings for this location.
Portsmouth city hazard ratings
| Peril | FEMA rating | National percentile | Peril score | Events per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 86th | 4.5 of 5 | 0.24 |
| Ice storm | Relatively Low | 55th | 3.2 of 5 | 0.76 |
| Coastal flooding | Relatively Moderate | 50th | 3.0 of 5 | 3.6 |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 48th | 2.9 of 5 | <0.01 |
| Heat wave | Relatively Low | 34th | 2.3 of 5 | 6.1 |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 30th | 2.2 of 5 | 1.4 |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 29th | 2.1 of 5 | 0.02 |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 25th | 2.0 of 5 | 40.8 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 19th | 1.8 of 5 | <0.01 |
| Strong wind | Relatively Low | 18th | 1.7 of 5 | 0.54 |
| Winter weather | Relatively Moderate | 14th | 1.6 of 5 | 2.8 |
| Riverine flooding | Relatively Low | 8th | 1.3 of 5 | 1.1 |
Model hail, wind and flood exposure for Portsmouth city in the weather risk calculator
Ratings are the FEMA National Risk Index county hazard ratings; the peril score is a Bywatts transform of the FEMA national percentile. Full data sources and the solar vulnerability methodology are in the weather risk calculator.
Modeled estimate for screening and negotiation. Built from FEMA National Risk Index county hazard data and a solar vulnerability layer documented above. Not a quote, a binder, or actuarial advice, and not a substitute for a carrier's own model. Hazard data: FEMA National Risk Index December 2025, synced 2026-07-24. Resolution is county level, not site level.