"Natural Gas: Environmental Justice Concerns Stall Va. Power Project"

"A $350 million gas project spanning much of eastern Virginia has been put on hold, in part due to environmental justice concerns.

Virginia's State Corporation Commission (SCC) recently deferred action on the proposal by Southern Co. subsidiary Virginia Natural Gas (VNG). The agency told the company to come back by the end of the year with more details on financing and environmental justice issues.

The project, a series of pipelines, compressor stations and other infrastructure stretching from the exurbs of Washington to Hampton Roads in southern Virginia, has come under fire from environmental groups for potentially locking in years of natural gas use.

They've been joined by a group of residents of Charles City County, a poor, majority-minority county east of Richmond. The project is designed to supply a natural gas power plant in the county, and another plant has been proposed. While supporters say the facilities would bring economic development, opponents say developers are pushing big polluters on a vulnerable population."

Mike Soraghan reports for E&E News July 23, 2020.

SEE ALSO:

"Virginia’s Energy Kingpin Could Finally Face A Reckoning Over Race" (HuffPost)

Source: E&E News, 07/24/2020