See below for a press release from the Chesapake Climate Action Network (CCAN) about the State Corporation Commission (SCC)’s “short-sighted decision to approve Chesterfield Gas Plant.” Why is it “short-sighted?” Because: a) it’s economically absurd – “will cost ratepayers $8 billion over its lifetime”; b) environmentally, it “will produce more toxic and planet-warming pollutants than the former coal plant, including dangerous substances like fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and volatile organic compounds, as well as billions of pounds of greenhouse gasses.” And, in the end, why do this? So that, as CCAN puts it, “Big Tech can power its data centers and monopoly utilities can profit from them.” F’ing brilliant, huh?
Climate Group Criticizes Short-Sighted Decision to Approve Chesterfield Gas Plant
Controversial plant will further a legacy of environmental injustice in Chesterfield
RICHMOND, VA — Despite years of vocal opposition from nearby residents as well as health, climate, and racial justice organizations, the State Corporation Commission approved today the 944-Megawatt Chesterfield gas plant, clearing the way for its construction. The plant will be constructed on the site of a former coal plant and, despite being billed as a “cleaner” option, will produce more toxic and planet-warming pollutants than the former coal plant, including dangerous substances like fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and volatile organic compounds, as well as billions of pounds of greenhouse gasses. It will cost ratepayers $8 billion over its lifetime.
Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), issued the following statement:
“This decision flies in the face of an affordable energy future. It flies in the face of a stable climate future. And it is an insult to the injuries that the Chesterfield community has endured from toxic coal pollution over the last 80 years. More than anything, we are heartbroken for the people who will get sick and spend days and dollars in the hospital thanks to this short-sighted decision, children playing at home with their families this Thanksgiving who will develop asthma and inherit an unstable planet. That is the price they will pay to ensure Big Tech can power its data centers and monopoly utilities can profit from them.”
Dominion’s new plant would operate up to 37% of the time, emitting about 4,500,000,000 lbs of CO2-equivalent per year. That’s the equivalent of adding over 470,000 cars to the road. Calculations show this would directly cause more than 6 million square meters of Arctic sea ice to melt each year.
Communities within a three-mile radius of the proposed plant’s location are largely low income and people of color who have suffered from the legacy pollution connected to Dominion’s coal-fired Chesterfield Power Station during its eight decades of operation, yielding additional opposition from the county’s NAACP branch, Friends of Chesterfield, and other community groups active in the area.
# # #
Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
**************
UPDATE 11/26: See below for a statement from Glen Besa of “Friends of Chesterfield,” which has strongly opposed this new gas-fired power plant.
SCC bows to Dominion Energy and Big Tech in approving Chesterfield Gas Plant
In response to today’s decision by the State Corporation Commission to grant Dominion Energy permission to build a new methane gas fired power in Chesterfield County; the first of as many as eight new gas plants Dominion is proposing, Glen Besa, Board Chair of Friends of Chesterfield issued the following statement:
“The State Corporation Commission just gutted the Virginia Clean Economy Act and gave Dominion Energy a blank check to build new gas plants and raise our electric bills. This decision only benefits Dominion shareholders and Big Tech, the richest corporations in the world, to power their data centers at our expense.
“In its decision earlier this year on Dominion’s long range energy plan and in today’s decision, the SCC has bent the law to suit Dominion Energy and data center bros to the detriment of ratepayers. Not only are we obligated to foot the $4.5 billion bill for the gas plant but we’ll be paying inflated prices for methane gas to fuel the plant for the next 30 years.
“Under the Clean Economy Act there was a moratorium on new gas plants and Dominion was to phase out all existing gas and coal plants by 2045. In this first test of this law, the SCC has failed.
“The hundreds of Chesterfield County residents and the thousands more across the state who rallied in opposition to this gas plant and in defense of the Virginia Clean Economy Act will fight on. It is critical that the General Assembly keep its promise to the people of Virginia ensuring affordable electricity, clean air and a healthy climate even if the SCC proved today it is not up to the job.”
UPDATE #2: Also, see the following statement from LG-elect Ghazala Hashmi
Ghazala Hashmi Releases Statement in Opposition to SCC Ruling on Gas-Fired Power Plant in Chesterfield County
RICHMOND, VA – Lieutenant Governor-elect Ghazala Hashmi (D-Richmond), released the following statement regarding the State Corporation Commission’s approval of the Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) and subsequent rate hikes for Virginians:
“As a legislator who represents the area in which this gas peaker plant will be sited and who has been engaged in raising concerns about it for nearly two years, I have heard from those who live in this community as well as legislators from across the Commonwealth who understand not only what this decision means for the residents of Chesterfield County, but also the precedent it sets for Virginia.
“Rather than meeting Virginia’s commitments to transition to clean, renewable energy by 2050, this ruling by the State Corporation Commission takes Virginia backwards while also ignoring the Commonwealth’s policy on environmental justice, endangering the public health and safety of communities, and burdening families who are already financially strained with rate increases to cover the high costs of the plant.
“Cheaper, cleaner, and reliable alternatives exist and have been deployed across our state and nation to meet our ever-increasing energy needs. We must continue the Commonwealth’s investment in cleaner, more affordable solutions that advance environmental justice and meet Virginia’s energy needs.”
************
Here’s a statement from Del. Mike Jones, who’s running for the State Senate seat being vacated by LG-elect Ghazala Hashmi:
