Opposition to proposed Dominion gas plant grows ahead of public briefing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2023

CONTACT
Jessica Sims, (804) 356-1228 jessica@appvoices.org
Glen Besa, (804) 387-6001 glenbesa@gmail.com

Chester, Va. — On Thursday, Nov. 16, advocates from Central Virginia will host a community gathering and press conference to highlight their opposition to the proposed “Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center,” a methane-gas power plant proposed by Dominion Energy. The community gathering and press conference at the SpringHill Suites in Chester will precede a two-hour public briefing hosted by Dominion Energy at the same location. The public briefing from the developer is required by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Chesterfield County has been home to a polluting coal-fired power plant for over seven decades and local residents are deeply concerned about a new significant source of pollution for the area. The proposed 1,000-megawatt facility intended for Chesterfield County could worsen the impacts of the area’s legacy pollution and potentially increase rates for Dominion customers, as the plant’s cost is estimated to be upwards of $600 million.

Community advocates will have information available on the health and environmental concerns related to the plant. Speakers scheduled for the 5:30 to 6 p.m. press conference in the Madison room include Glen Besa, Friends of Chesterfield County; Nicole Martin, President of Chesterfield NAACP; Rachel James, Associate Attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center; and Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network. The conference will be viewable via livestream. Advocates will also attend the public briefing.

WHO: Local residents and allied organizations including “Friends of Chesterfield County,” Chesterfield County NAACP and CCAN, opposed to the plant
WHAT: Community Briefing and press conference preceding a Virginia DEQ-required
public briefing
WHERE: SpringHill Suites Hotel, 12301 Redwater Creek Road, Chester, VA 23832
Community briefing: Madison Room, adjacent to location of Public Briefing
Press conference livestream.
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 16, 5 to 8 p.m.
5 p.m. – Community gathering
5:30 p.m. – Press briefing, Madison Room
6 to 8 p.m. – Dominion Public Briefing