Debate over Virginia's growing electricity needs spilled into a packed school cafeteria in Cumberland County, where residents confronted Dominion Energy over its plans for a major new gas plant.
Supporters claim it will lead to jobs and tax dollars, but opponents fear the long-term pollution burdens for nearby communities, the Virginia Mercury reported.
Here's what to know
If regulators approve it, Dominion would build the 3-gigawatt Cumberland Energy Center off Duncan Store Road near the James River. The massive gas facility would rank as the second-largest in the nation.
Dominion says the project is part of a larger effort to prepare for electricity demand that it expects to rise to more than double current levels by 2045, in part because of artificial intelligence data centers. The company also says the plant could serve 750,000 homes and bring in about $500 million in local tax revenue over its first 35 years, according to the Virginia Mercury.
Dominion spokesman Jeremy Slayton said at the meeting that the company picked the site because "it's near existing utilities and a reliable water supply, which is critical because it minimizes impacts to the community." Construction would begin in 2029 if the project moves forward, and the plant would start operating roughly a decade later, per the Mercury.
Yet critics say the promised economic gains would be far outweighed by consequences for health and daily life. A health impact study commissioned by the Southern Environmental Law Center estimated that pollution from the plant could be associated each year with three to seven premature deaths, seven new asthma cases, and thousands of restricted-activity days in nearby counties, with impacts reaching as far as Richmond, as the Mercury reported.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Coal and natural gas plants are known to contribute to air and water pollution linked to asthma, heart disease, cancer, and premature death. Continued reliance on these fuels can keep energy prices elevated compared with more abundant sources such as sunlight and wind.
What's being done?
Local review is ongoing. After several hours of testimony, the Cumberland Planning Commission recommended approval of the plant's conditional use permit. The county's Board of Supervisors must still vote on the proposal, and the State Corporation Commission must also determine whether it is in the public interest, according to the Mercury.
Organizing around the proposal has continued, with residents rallying and reviewing details.
Where can I learn more?
The fight in Cumberland County is part of a much bigger debate over how to meet rising power demand and what those choices mean for public health, household bills, and long-term energy planning. These stories add context to residents' concerns about pollution burdens and whether cleaner power could meet that demand more affordably.
• Across oil and gas regions, pollution has been tied to asthma, illness, and premature deaths.
• Around the U.S., keeping aging coal plants alive has driven up costs for utility customers.
• Nationwide, new wind and solar have become cheaper than nearly every coal plant.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
