Written by Jessica Sims
Jessica Sims
Born and raised in Central Virginia, Jessica holds a lifelong passion for protecting Virginia’s waterways. She works as AV's Virginia Field Coordinator fighting against fracked-gas pipelines.
Chesterfield residents turn government inaction into community action
For over a year, Chesterfield residents and local allies have spoken out against Dominion Energy’s controversial proposed methane gas plant, imploring local officials to hold a public hearing on the project’s potential impacts on the county.
Public left in the dark on safety inspection results after Mountain Valley Pipeline becomes operational
PHMSA’s consent order laid out specific requirements for the MVP’s developers both for during construction and after the methane-gas pipeline became operational.
Pipe blowout heightens Mountain Valley Pipeline concerns
When Congress placed a thumb on the scale to mandate approval of Mountain Valley Pipeline’s permits in June 2023, construction resumed and communities along the route expressed deep concerns about the use of degraded materials and rushed construction practices.
Opposition to new Dominion gas plant grows — and now includes Virginia state legislators
What I learned from the town hall was that Dominion, a company with significant resources and ability to expand clean energy in Virginia, has branded a new polluting gas plant as its only option for “reliability.”
The latest on Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate
Even as Mountain Valley Pipeline’s rushed construction results in landslides and muddy waters in Virginia and concerned residents call for state and federal authorities to stop the damage, communities to the south are facing new and changing threats from the pipeline’s proposed Southgate extension.
Crossover: Virginia General Assembly session reaches an important milestone
The Virginia General Assembly has reached the halfway mark — and amid the highs and lows of committee decisions, hundreds of Virginians have helped advocate for critical environmental protections. Thank you for your calls and emails to legislators!
Communities continue to seek safety measures for Mountain Valley Pipeline
Along the route of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, citizen monitors have watched a frenzy of workers hurriedly lower sun-bleached and degraded pipe into trenches, burying as much material as possible. Although safety concerns led the agency tasked with pipe safety, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, to issue a consent agreement, the agreement has not brought peace of mind.
In a moment of climate crisis, Dominion wants to move Virginia backwards
These developments support the Virginia-wide shift towards clean, renewable energy and Dominion Energy had seemingly embraced this transition, expanding its own solar and wind facilities. But, alarmingly Dominion is now trying to reverse course in Chesterfield and construct a new harmful methane gas “peaker” plant, mere miles from the old plant.
Federal agency announces a proposed safety order for Mountain Valley Pipeline
Now as MVP construction is resuming, communities along the pipeline’s route are alarmed at the danger of using the deteriorated components, fearing that the risk for cracks, weld failures, leaks and explosions has increased.
Not On This Land: Documentary celebrates the community-led fight against the Atlantic Coast Pipeline
The two screenings brought together people to celebrate the fight that brought down the behemoth ACP. “Not On This Land: The Fight Against the Atlantic Coast Pipeline,” directed by Christopher Landry, profiles some of the West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina communities who helped defeat the fracked-gas pipeline.
