Dominion’s Chesterfield Power Station is Virginia’s Biggest Global Warming Polluter

Richmond, Va – As destructive extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Sandy, threaten Virginia, a new report from Environment Virginia Research & Policy Center finds that the Chesterfield Power Station just miles south of Richmond is the commonwealth’s biggest carbon polluter. Dominion Virginia Power runs the three biggest carbon-polluting power plants in the commonwealth, producing as much global warming pollution as over 2 million cars each year.  

For Immediate Release: September 10, 2013

Contact: Sarah Bucci,sbucci@environmentvirginia.org, 240-506-2832

Dominion’s Chesterfield Power Station is Virginia’s Biggest Global Warming Polluter

Richmond, Va – As destructive extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Sandy, threaten Virginia, a new report from Environment Virginia Research & Policy Center finds that the Chesterfield Power Station just miles south of Richmond is the commonwealth’s biggest carbon polluter. Dominion Virginia Power runs the three biggest carbon-polluting power plants in the commonwealth, producing as much global warming pollution as over 2 million cars each year.

Scientists predict that extreme weather events will become more frequent and severe for future generations, unless we cut the dangerous carbon pollution fueling the problem.

“Virginia’s dirtiest power plants are the elephant in the room when it comes to global warming,” said Sarah Bucci, campaign director for Environment Virginia. “If we want a cleaner, safer future for our kids, we can’t afford to ignore power plants’ overwhelming contribution to global warming. For Virginia, tackling the problem means cleaning up the dirtiest power plants.”

The report, titled, ‘America’s Dirtiest Power Plants,’ comes as the Obama administration readies a new set of rules to tackle global warming. It illustrates the scale of carbon pollution from Virginia’s power sector and ranks Virginia’s biggest carbon polluters.

Key findings from the report include:

·  The top most polluting power plants in Virginia are the Chesterfield Power Station, Clover Power Station, Chesapeake Energy Center.

·  America’s power plants are its single largest source of carbon pollution responsible for 40 percent of emissions nationwide.

·  The most carbon-polluting power plant in the nation – Georgia Power Company’s Scherer Plant – emits as much carbon pollution as 4.4 million cars.

·  Virginia’s power plants produce as much carbon each year as 7.1 million cars.

This summer, President Obama directed his Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to propose limits on carbon pollution from new and existing power plants, the largest single source of carbon pollution. In a major step, the EPA is expected to propose an updated rule for cutting carbon pollution from new power plants on September 20. Virginians have already submitted over 130,000 public comments in support of limiting carbon pollution from power plants.

“The first step is to not repeat the mistakes of the past. We need strong rules based on science to make sure that new power in Virginia is coming from clean energy like wind, solar, and energy efficiency,” said Bucci.

Environment Virginia is calling on Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to join them in supporting limits on power plants’ carbon pollution. “Virginia can’t afford to wait to act on climate, so it’s critical that our Senators step up and support action,” concluded Bucci.

###

Environment Virginia is a state-wide, citizen-funded environmental advocacy group working for clean air, clean water and open space.

For more information visit www.environmentvirginia.org and to download the full report visit http://environmentvirginia.org…