Over the course of a four-day hearing, commissioners heard testimony from experts that pointed out significant problems with Dominion’s IRP
RICHMOND, Va. — On Friday, the State Corporation Commission concluded its hearing for Dominion’s long-term integrated resource plan. On behalf of its client, Appalachian Voices, the Southern Environmental Law Center presented the testimony of three experts, ultimately recommending that the commission reject Dominion’s plan. Among other significant problems, Dominion’s plans failed to consider the requirement that the utility’s fossil fuel fleet must retire by 2045 under the law, a requirement that permits only narrow exceptions.
“We presented evidence that, even with data center growth, Dominion can comply with the law,” said Nate Benforado, Senior Attorney at SELC. “Our analysis shows that building batteries instead of gas plants is a no-regrets proposition for customers; it puts us on a pathway to a modern and reliable grid, with predictable and affordable bills, that doesn’t jeopardize the health of Virginians. But we are at a juncture. If we follow Dominion’s short-sighted plan, which builds 6 gigawatts of new methane gas power plants in the 2030s and ignores the potential of cleaner alternatives, we will virtually guarantee a non-compliant, dirty, and expensive electric system.”
“Virginians want to live in healthy communities, free from pollution,” said Peter Anderson, Director of State Energy Policy at Appalachian Voices. “We want a grid that works, that we can afford, and that we can rely on for years to come. While the challenge we face is clear — our grid will require some expansion after decades of no or slow growth — this is a problem we can solve without wedding the Commonwealth to new gas plants and infrastructure for decades. Our experts used conservative assumptions and modeled two paths that meet growing — yet uncertain — demand cost-effectively while reducing carbon pollution to zero. There are likely additional paths, but we don’t have to sacrifice essential outcomes like affordability, reliability or human health for one another.”
The parties will now submit post-hearing briefs by May 19, 2025, after which the commission will issue its determination.
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About Southern Environmental Law Center
The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 200, including more than 130 legal and policy experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. selc.org
About Appalachian Voices
Appalachian Voices is a leading nonprofit advocate for a healthy environment and just economy in the Appalachian region. We bring people together to protect the land, air, water, and communities of Central and Southern Appalachia and build a clean energy economy. appvoices.org
