Dominion gas plant in Chesterfield on hold, while SCC considers petition

Dominion Energy’s proposed Chesterfield County natural gas plant is now on hold, as the Virginia State Corporation Commission is reconsidering its final order approving the project.

In a Dec. 15 decision, the SCC issued a brief ruling that it will consider a petition from opponents of the Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) — Appalachian Voices, the NAACP and Mothers Out Front. This puts the project on hold for at least the time being, according to the ruling.

The petition raises multiple issues, including possible health impacts of air pollution, higher costs for customers if the plant is built, and “disregards substantial proof that new gas is not required to meet Virginians’ energy needs,” according to a statement from the groups’ legal counsel, Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC).

Meanwhile, on Dec. 19, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality approved an air permit for the project, but this doesn’t override the SCC’s reconsideration.

In November, the SCC approved the $1.47 billion, 944-megawatt power plant’s certificate of public convenience and necessity, which Dominion applied for in March. Known as a peaker plant, the facility would provide electricity at peak demand hours, according to the Fortune 500 utility. It is projected to be in operation by June 1, 2029.

“There is little doubt that Dominion’s need for additional generation assets is urgent,” the SCC’s Nov. 25 opinion said. “The near-term reliability concerns motivating the CERC project … cannot be addressed by non-carbon-emitting resources.”

The project still could go forward, but the SCC’s new ruling, which follows the Dec. 15 submission of a petition for reconsideration, pauses the process. The three opposing groups and the SELC issued a statement, saying that they appreciate the SCC’s reconsideration.

“We hope that the commission will see and acknowledge the unfairness of continuing to force particular communities to bear the brunt of pollution from fossil fuel infrastructure,” SELC Senior Attorney Grayson Holmes said. “Since this is the first case assessing what constitutes a ‘threat to reliability,‘ sufficient to overcome the [Virginia] Clean Economy Act’s presumption against building new gas plants, we also hope the commission will recognize that permitting Dominion to claim this narrow exception on flimsy evidence sets a bad precedent — effectively suggesting that any future gas proposals could easily clear this hurdle, even if they are not the cleanest or most economic option.”

Dominion issued statements about the SCC’s latest decision and the DEQ’s approval.

“We stand behind the SCC’s approval of the project,” Dominion said. “It was approved after a year of exhaustive review, an extensive public hearing and participation by thousands of Virginians. The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center will provide reliable power for hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses, schools and hospitals in Chesterfield and beyond. It’s an important part of Virginia’s all-of-the-above strategy to ensure our region has the reliable power we need to continue growing and thriving.

“We appreciate the DEQ’s thorough review and the strong public participation in the process. This is good news for our customers, Virginia’s economy and the reliability of the grid.”

Appalachian Voices and Friends of Chesterfield, a group of neighbors opposing the plant, criticized the DEQ’s decision.

“We are profoundly disappointed that DEQ is siding with corporate polluters and ignoring the health impacts of air pollution from this dirty methane-fired power plant on our community,” said Glen Besa, chair of Friends of Chesterfield. Matt Allenbaugh, Appalachian Voices’ Virginia campaign coordinator, said it was “unacceptable that Chesterfield residents will be exposed to decades of additional air pollution after finally getting relief from the coal plant.”