Victory in Virginia ODEC Coal Plant Fight!

Victory in Virginia ODEC Coal Plant Fight!

Members of the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition rejoiced recently over news that plans for the state’s largest proposed coal-fired power plant were put on hold.

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, the third largest power utility in the Commonwealth, announced earlier this fall that it was suspending the permitting process for its proposed coal plant in the Hampton Roads area of Surry County. The 1500-megawatt, $6 billion plant would have been the state’s largest polluting power plant.

Appalachian Voices and the other four members of the coalition aided residents in a fierce, years-long battle to stop the proposed plant. The coalition credits mounting citizen objection, including pressure from ODEC’s own customers and shareholders — as well as declines in the coal market — for this long-awaited common sense decision. More than 8,000 people signed a petition to the Army Corps of Engineers opposing the plant.

“The suspension of plans for this plant, which would belch as much carbon dioxide as about 2 million cars, is a great sign for the fight against climate change. We look forward to seeing ODEC move away from fossil fuels and toward a future powered by wind and solar energy,” said Beth Kemler, Virginia state director with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a coalition group.

Coalition member groups hope to work with ODEC on projects that provide more affordable and climate-friendly sources of energy for its customers, and pledge to keep a close eye on the utility to ensure it does not revive the coal plant proposal in the future.